Mary and the infamous Martha: I've long pondered these two sisters. It's always seemed so unfair of Jesus to rebuke Martha for her busy-ness. I confess, I've taken it personally. I'm very practical. I see what needs to be done, I do it. I like life to be orderly and organized, and with a house full of guests, just like Martha, I'd be in the kitchen. Why should she be rebuked? I'm not a Bible scholar, and I don't know this for a fact, but I think Mary and Martha are mentioned by name in the gospels of Luke and John more than any other individuals besides the twelve apostles. That has to mean something, right? Like maybe "pay attention to these stories, they're important!" The other day I began reading John 11. It's the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I'm reading along: Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His
Thoughts on life and faith