Jesus from house to house (6) In Bethany, in Martha and Mary

"It happened, as they were on the way, that [Jesus] went into a village ; And a woman named Martha received him in his house. "Luke 10:38

Jesus passes from village to village. He enters with his disciples at Bethany, a village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives and three-quarters of an hour from Jerusalem. From the outset, the evangelist draws all our attention to the host : "a woman named Martha received him in his house", no doubt with his disciples. To open their house generously, it required devotion; Such hospitality required a lot of effort. The Lord knew, noticed, and appreciated all this.

Conscious of her responsibility as mistress of the house, Marthe spends herself so much that she forgets to pay attention to the Master's words. But why does she criticize her sister and hesitate to interrupt the Master to reproach her ? "Do not you worry that my sister left me alone to serve? Tell him to help me "(Luke 10:40). She needs relief. She gets it with a beneficent lesson : "Martha, Martha, you worry and you worry about many things ; But there is only need of one, and Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her "(v. 41, 42). The only thing necessary for everyone at any age is within everyone's reach !

Mary's favorite place is at Jesus' feet to listen to her word in a humble and attentive attitude (v. 39). We will meet Mary at Bethany at the feet of Jesus to taste his sympathy and consolations before he resurrects Lazarus, his dead brother for four days (John 11:32). A few days before the crucifixion, she anointed the feet of her Lord in a gesture of adoration (John 12: 3) ; Martha takes care of the service; Lazarus sits at table with Jesus : two sisters and their brothers united around the Lord Jesus by his love (John 11: 5), in his communion (John 12: 2) and with the smell of pure nard perfume, He alone (v. 3).

Martha, opening her house generously, welcomed the Son of God ! How can I receive the Lord at home today ? It is by welcoming one of his own : "He who receives in my name a little child ... receives me" (Mark 9:37).

Source (Please the Lord)