The Better Part

For Sunday, July 21st

Proper 11

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her Luke 10:38-42


The Better Part

Oh sisters, I have watched us all
work together at the kitchen sink
singing the songs we learned
being good scouts and good daughters.

Oh sisters, we have slaved in kitchens
feeding the church basement crowd
emptying the trash after the guests
wiping up the mess always left behind.

We have stood on ladders in blazing sun
paint brushes and buckets every season
pushed mowers while other played
doing chores until the late afternoons.

Oh sisters, there are surely times
when we are called to let it all go
 liger on the presence of love incarnate
basked in the moment of light.

Oh sisters, the dishes will wait for us
the laundry will continue to pile
these precious ones will not return
these days will never come again.






Collect

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.