Summary: Mary chose the better portion in life, and God led her safely home.

We are gathered this morning in the shadow of sorrow, but also in the light of a great hope. And in this moment, we remember and give thanks to God for the beautiful and faithful life of Mary Beale.

There is power in a name. Names connect us to our heritage and families, and sometimes, they even seem to reveal something about the person who bears them. The name Mary is, of course, a biblical name–I think one of the most cherished names in all of Scripture. As we reflect on the life of our Mary, Mary Beale, we see that she had much in common with the Mary’s of the Bible—particularly, Mary from the village of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus. Mary of Bethany was a woman who, in a moment of clarity, made a clear choice, which Jesus himself called “the better portion,” or the “better choice.”

Today, I want to suggest to you that the life of Mary Beale was a life defined by that very same choice. Mary was a woman who consistently chose the better portion, and it is that choice that gives us our hope today.

Mary Beale chose the better portion in life, and God led her safely home.

THE ONE THING NEEDED: A LIFE AT HIS FEET

The story is a familiar one, found in the gospel of Luke. Jesus and his disciples arrive at the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. And immediately, the two women respond to Jesus’ presence in very different ways. While Martha busies herself with the tasks of hospitality, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words. When Martha protests, Jesus gently says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Mary chose the better portion.

What does it mean to choose the better portion? For Mary of Bethany, it was sitting at the feet of Jesus, soaking in His teaching, and placing her trust in Him. Mary of Bethany understood that all of our service, all of our doing, must flow from a heart that is first and foremost sitting at His feet, listening to his words, and resting in His presence. And this was the choice that defined our Mary’s life.

When a life is rooted in that one essential choice, it bears a particular kind of fruit. It may not always be a life of spectacular, headline-grabbing moments, but it will be a life of deep and powerful faithfulness.

Mary and her husband, Wes, were married for 64 years. They moved to Cherry Hill over 50 years ago, when the town was still half dirt. Mary was a member of St. Paul’s for five decades. She officially joined St. Paul’s on November 16, 1975, which, for your reference, was before I was even born. Her life was a marathon of faithfulness.

The writer Eugene Peterson coined a beautiful phrase to describe this kind of steadfast Christian life. He called it “a long obedience in the same direction.” Mary’s life was a long obedience in the same direction—faithfully pointed toward her Lord, her family, and the church.

Mary was also very active in the church. She was a woman ready to serve. I did some digging through church records and came across a document that Mary filled out when she and Wes first joined St. Paul’s. And one of them was a page that listed around 100 different types of ministries or skills, which you could check off for the areas you wanted to serve and participate. And she checked off a variety of roles, including Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Greeter, Elder, Visitation, Hospitality, Kitchen Help, Food Pantry, Painting, Missions, Presbyterian Women’s Association, Knitting, Quilting, Typing, Bookkeeping, Office Volunteer, and more (which is just about everything that the church did). Mary chose the better portion and put her faith into action with her own two hands.

She also participated in various church committees, including the pastoral nominating committee for the associate pastor. And her work bore much fruit in the life of the church–the fruit of her long obedience. All of this service, all of this doing, flowed directly from her being.

Mary chose the better portion in life, and God led her safely home.

THE PROMISE: IT WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY

This brings us to the promise. Jesus says, “Mary has chosen the better portion, and it will not be taken away from her.” What Mary chose will not be taken away from her.

This is the promise of eternal security for all who, like Mary, place their trust in Jesus Christ. The things of this world—our homes, our health, our relationships, even our very lives—are temporary. But the one thing that truly matters, the “better portion,” is a relationship with Christ, which is eternal. Death has no power over it.

The better portion is not taken away–not even at the moment of death. Instead, it is perfected and fulfilled. The life Mary Beale lived at the feet of Jesus has now brought her face to face with Him in glory. Her faith has become sight. Her quiet listening has turned into a joyful chorus of praise in the presence of the One she loved and served so faithfully.

CONCLUSION

We will miss her. We will miss her quiet, gentle presence. We will miss her steadfast example. Our hearts are heavy with her loss. But as we grieve, we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

We are confident today because Mary’s life was a beautiful illustration of choosing the one thing that truly matters.

In the midst of all the worries and distractions of a long and full life, she consistently chose to sit at the feet of her Savior, and God led her safely home.