O GOD, who bestowest divers gifts and graces upon thy saints; We give thee humble thanks for the examples of thy servants: Mary and Martha, the friends of our Saviour Jesus Christ; and we pray thee to give us grace to love and serve thee and others for his sake, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, a village not far from
Jerusalem. They are mentioned several times in the Gospels. On one
occasion, when Jesus and His disciples were their guests, Mary sat at
Jesus' feet and listened to Him while her sister Martha busied
herself with preparing food and waiting on the guests, and when
Martha complained, Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better part.
When Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, died, Jesus traveled to
Bethany. Martha, upon being told that He was approaching, went out to
meet Him, while Mary sat still in the house until He sent for her. It
was to Martha that Jesus said: "I am the Resurrection and the
Life." Again, about a week before the crucifixion Mary poured a
flask of expensive perfume over Jesus' feet. Mary was criticized for
wasting what might have been sold to raise money for the poor, and
again Jesus spoke on her behalf.
