Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
"Martha and Mary were sisters, related not only by blood but also by
religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord and both served him
harmoniously when he was among them. Martha welcomed him as travelers are
welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant received her Lord, the creature her
Creator, to serve him bodily food while she was to be fed by the Spirit. No one
of you should say, "Blessed are they who have deserved to receive Christ into
their homes!" Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you
can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from
you. As he says, "Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to
me." - from a sermon by Saint Augustine
Hear us, O God, out Saviour, so that we,
who rejoice in the feast of Blessed Martha,
Thy Virgin, may be taught by the spirit of pious devotion.
