In the gospel of Luke (10:25-37), in response to the lawyer’s question “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan. It is a story about going out of our way for the suffering stranger. About allowing our lives to be interrupted by injustice. “Go and do likewise” commands Jesus. We can’t know Jesus without a spirituality of extravagant justice.

But for many years I did not realize that is not the end of the story. Immediately after this Jesus goes to Bethany, to the home of sisters Martha and Mary (10:38-42). There, with Martha so busy in the kitchen, so occupied, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to the Lord. When Martha protests Jesus responds: “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Bethany is a story of radical devotion. Holding these two stories together, we see that extravagant justice cannot be separated from extravagant devotion.

This first image of Desmond Tutu of South Africa is from the cover of the biography Rabble-Rouser for Peace. Nobel Peace Prize winner. Episcopal bishop. Leader for decades against the oppression of apartheid. This is the Tutu the world is familiar with. Preaching to a large crowd.  The fiery prophet speaking truth to power. The Tutu who once cried out in a sermon from the gravesite of a murdered apartheid victim, “God we know you are going to win, but why are you taking so long?” The public Tutu. The Tutu the world is familiar with.

Yet this second image is the Tutu we are not familiar with. Hidden from the world. The Tutu who took the time to build a beautiful chapel in the back yard of his home. Sitting quietly there.  Gazing at Jesus on a cross. Sitting at the feet of the Lord. Listening. Still. This is the Tutu the public is not familiar with.

There is no public Tutu without the hidden Tutu. Sitting in that chapel in worship, Tutu names the difference between us and God. He names that Jesus is the Only Indispensable One. The Jesus who calls us outward into extravagant justice. The Jesus who calls us inward to extravagant devotion.