Ninth Meditation
(The Way of Perfection, Chapter 17-18)

"As they continued their journey he 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." (1)


Martha And Mary

Martha prepares the Master's meals,
In serving the hungry and poor;
Her sacrifice of self reveals,
Humility that will endure.

Martha accepts the call to serve,
As the role chose for her by grace.
His strength's held for her in reserve;
He provides and prepares her place.

Mary listens at the Lord's feet,
Forgetful of self and all things,
Not concerned with what they will eat --
All enthralled with the King of kings.

Mary's called to be His presence
Of hope and faith in midst of pain
And doubt, and to share His essence -
His love by which He will sustain.

Martha and Mary share the bread,
With the Lord at their daily meal:
With strength for work and prayer, they're fed;
To pray and wash His feet, they kneel.

Prayer and service go hand-in-hand,
To serve the Lord as He has planned.

May we follow the Master's example in our prayer and service to one another.