A "Glimpse" of Mary, Martha... and Lazarus

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He visits Mary & Martha in Bethany
Luke 10:38-42

AS THEY CONTINUED their journey, Jesus came to a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house. She had a sister by the name of Mary who settled down at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was very worried about her elaborate preparations and she burst in, saying, “Lord, don’t you mind that my sister has left me to do everything by myself? Tell her to get up and help me!”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, my dear, you are worried and bothered about providing so many things. Only a few things are really needed, perhaps only one. Mary has chosen the best part and you must not tear it away from her!”

Just after…

A MAN FINISHES a meeting on the other side of town, shakes his counterpart’s hand, walks out the door and into the freshness of the evening air. He takes a deep breath in; lets it out. 

As he walks back home, he is at first totally unaware of the loveliness of the sunset: how its pinks and purples linger over the western hills and rises.

But all at once he notices. 

He turns his full attention to the poetry of the night’s encroaching over the town: men and women are returning through the warm-lit doors of their homes; food is cooking; children play in the street, unconcerned. He is watching as he winds along through the alley into the straightaway that runs right up to the door of his shared family home.

His sisters are standing outside at the open door. They are talking to a stranger. Both their faces are lit by a lovely warm glow. 

Even at a distance he can see that their eyes are moist. 

The stranger nods his head as the two of them pass by each another.

“Who was that man?” Lazarus asks his two sisters, arriving home.

“Come inside,” they say, “and we’ll tell you all about it.”