Martha and Mary

³⁸ While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha^(A) welcomed him into her home.^{[a] 39} She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s^[b] feet^(B) and was listening to what he said.^{[c] 40} But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(C) that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”^[d](D)

⁴¹ The Lord^[e] answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,^{(E) 42} but one thing is necessary.^[f](F) Mary has made the right choice,^[g] and it will not be taken away from her.”

The Centrality of Christ

²¹ Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. ²² But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death,^(N) to present you holy, faultless,^(O) and blameless before him^(P)— ²³ if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith^(Q) and are not shifted away from the hope^(R) of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation^(S) under heaven,^(T) and I, Paul,^(U) have become a servant of it.

Paul’s Ministry

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings^(V) for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body,^(W) that is, the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ^(X) in you, the hope^(Y) of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.