I'll begin here, but I'll end over there. Most of you folks are very familiar with the story of Mary and Martha, but then again, it's worth repeating because there is so much to remember. I'll take a few liberties here because I want to tell the story the way I read it.

These two women most likely lived in a little village with not much more than a hundred people along with a few dozen sheep, goats, dogs and maybe a pair of oxen. If you lived there, you have had to dug up enough rocks to have a small garden, your house is about 20 by 20 with a low thatched roof and a door in the front with a piece of home-spun cloth for privacy and a small opening for a window that allows some light and any breezes passing by. You're fairly well off because you have four sheep, one goat and an ox to pull a wooden plow. You have some hunting skills that gets you some meat now and then.

Then there is Mary and Martha, widows, but doing what must be done to live one day at a time. Why Jesus stopped at their home can be easily explained. He knew He was welcome. He knew He was among friends.

I can see Martha running all over the neighborhood to borrow a plate, maybe some dessert from a friend, vegetables from her little garden. Where was Mary?

"Jesus. We'll be lucky to eat by dark the way things are going. Mary is just sitting there doing nothing. I can only do so much. Would You tell her to at least give me a hand?"

"Martha, Martha, this is plenty. I don't need all the trimmings. It is enough just to be with you and Mary. You want to please and Mary wants to listen. I love you both and all I need to know is that I am welcome. And I am!"

When Julie and I knew that we had family or friends coming by, we wanted the house to look spic and span. We wanted the kids to behave, so we used kind words and threats, or told them to at least hide. We wanted to entertain our guests with good food and good conversation. We even cleaned the oven in case they needed to look inside! I truly believe that if we asked our friends what they liked about visiting us, they would say, "Because there is love here."

The wonderful thing about this story – and so many others – is that it speaks to us in so many different ways. For those who can't stop long enough to smell the flowers, it says to slow down. Jesus doesn't need a lot of activity to know that we are glad He is here. For those who can relax and listen, we'll find He has a lot to say.

There are times when our normally relaxed and routine existence is changed. We get so anxious that our nerves get on edge, we run around in circles and we come to the end of our rope. We become frustrated, angry, burned out. It is at that moment that we need to stop and listen. It is alright to stop for awhile, as the world will not fall apart without us. The cure is not to work harder, but to sit at the feet of our Lord and let Him speak to us. Let Him care for us.

Jesus calls us to work and He calls us to listen. When we work, we work hard, honestly and responsibly. When we listen, we concentrate on the word of God so we can have the spiritual food that will carry us through the doubts, fears and concerns.

We do what we can. It is well received. We are loved. We rest in peace.

Thanks, God.