Martha and Mary: The two Lives

Extract

1. When the holy Gospel was being read, we heard how the Lord was received by a good woman, named Martha, who was working busily to serve him, while her sister Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, hearing his word. Martha worked, Mary sat at leisure; Martha spent herself, Mary received her fill. Yet Martha, working hard at her serving, appealed to the Lord, complaining that her sister gave her no help. But the Lord replied on Mary’s behalf, and, although he was called upon as her judge, himself became her advocate. Martha, he said, thou art busy about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part which shall not be taken away from her (Luke X, 41, 42). We have heard both the appeal to the Judge and his verdict: that verdict both answered the plaintiff and upheld the defendant. For Mary was absorbed in the sweet savour of the Lord’s words. Martha was intent upon how she should feed the Lord; Mary upon how the Lord would feed her. Martha was making ready for the Lord a feast which Mary was already enjoying. She was listening with delight, and receiving her fill with eagerly waiting heart. How much then must she have feared that the Lord might say to her at her sister’s appeal: “Arise, help your sister”? For she was enthralled by a wonderful sweetness of the mind, far greater than that of the body. But she was defended, and sat at ease.