This is the
season when families get together and someone always says, “Remember the time…”and
then it begins. The laughter and memories and funny stories roll.
I wonder if once
upon a time a certain family had memory like this…
“And after I’d
fasted for forty days and nights, I was really hungry. Well, about that time
the devil showed up and tempted me to turn stones into bread.”
Mary gasped. “The
devil!”
Martha’s eyes got
wide. “Oh dear Jesus, if only you’d have told me I’d have made you something to
take along to eat.”
He looked at them
and smiled. Touched Martha’s cheek, and nodded at Mary. “I had food to eat he
didn’t know about….I told that snake, ‘It is written, man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
It was an old
familiar passage they’d heard a thousand times.
Martha stood, “You
must be hungry. I’ll get some bread”
But Mary
whispered, “You are The Bread.”
Mary scooted closer.
Martha walked
away.
Martha got the
meal, got the dishes, got the napkins, got the guests something to drink…and
about the time she handed her sister a glass of water, she got mad...and dumped
it on Mary's head. Accidentally, of course.
“Jesus, don’t you even care? Can’t you see
Mary just sitting there? Tell her to get off her butt and give me a hand.”
Jesus didn’t
blink an eye, "Martha, Martha, you’re
worried and stressed over many things, when only One thing is needed. Mary has
discovered it, and it won’t be taken from her."
Martha slapped
another basket of bread on the table and stood there with her hands on her
hips. She blew a wisp of hair off her face.
Mary dabbed a
towel across her face, reached up and touched her sister’s hand and then patted
the place next to her. “Sit.” She looked at Jesus and then back at her sister. “Eat.”
Martha crossed
her arms and pursed her lips.
Jesus took a bite
and nodded big. “This is good—really good”
Martha lifted
half a smile.
Mary stood, gave
her sister a hug and whispered, “I’ll take care of cleaning up, when we’re
through.”
Martha huffed, “All
of it?”
Jesus laughed
Martha smiled.
Mary nodded. “He’s
the Christ, let’s me merry.”
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