Monday, August 14, 2006

IRL: Martha

It was no surprise that I was exhausted by the time the Teacher arrived. I had risen far before the sun, and had been hard at work with the preparations since. By evening, my entire body was screaming for rest, but rest was impossible. I walked briskly into our small, but functional, kitchen, and contemplated the situation at hand. The evening meal was ready, thanks to hours of my work beforehand. Now Jesus would be served...

Lazarus’ hearty laugh interrupted my thoughts, and I scowled. Why can’t he keep the noise down? I caught myself, and released a long sigh. I was irritable—probably in part from sheer exhaustion—and I knew it. And yet, simply knowing my problem did nothing to ease it. In fact, I thought as I exited the kitchen, It is only making me grow more irked. My eyes wandered towards Mary and Lazarus, and a frown creased my forehead. Unfortunately, Mary wasn’t helping the situation.

From the moment that Jesus arrived, she had been doing absolutely nothing. While I worked, she sat on the floor, leisurely listening to the Teacher speak! I slowed my quick steps for a moment to watch her, and my frustration with her laziness quickly turned to anger. Jesus was laughing, and Mary was smiling widely! My lips tightened into a thin grimace.

How could she do this to me? Especially today. I reached up to push away a stray curl, and glared in her direction. She didn’t see me, and her upturned face was glowing as she listened to the Teacher talk. Somehow, seeing her like that made everything worse. A hot flash of anger surged through me again. There I was—utterly exhausted, but serving the Teacher willingly—and Mary just sat at His feet, listening! It was completely unfair. It was wrong. After everything Jesus had been teaching about becoming servants, I could scarcely believe that Mary was behaving so inconsiderately. I chewed on my lip to keep the angry, hurt words from spilling out. And suddenly, a thought struck me. Jesus will understand.

In spite of myself, I smiled. I couldn’t even help it. For I realized, just then, that the Teacher would see how well I was serving Him. And then—I smiled again—He would see how Mary was failing! I would be praised, and she would be reproved. In my mind’s eye, I imagined how the scene would play out, and my smile widened a little. My anger was replaced with a kind of self-righteous satisfaction, as I walked towards Jesus and Mary.

"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" I felt like adding something about how lazy Mary was, but decided that my point was clear enough. And then Jesus’ eyes were looking into mine—gentle, kind, and… sorrowful? "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." I stood there, motionless, staring into His eyes. I was stunned. Speechless, guilt washed over me.

Then Jesus took my hand, and gently led me to His feet.

More to come soon, when Mary gives her side of the story in Part 2....

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