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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: JOIE DE VIVRE (delight in being alive) (08/18/16)
“Martha, Martha!” Mary ran into the house through the kitchen door; disheveled and barefoot as usual, loose hair tangled and tousled from running.
“Mary, where have you been?” Martha scolded her younger sister. “Where is the oil that I sent you to the market for?”
“Martha, Martha! I have wonderful news! Jesus is in Bethany! He has been telling the most amazing stories! And healing people! You know the widow of Micah the tailor? He healed her back – you should see her standing straight up! And Lydia’s son Benjamin: the one born with the club foot? He is running around, healed! And …
“Mary!”
“You know that crazy old man …
“Mary!!!”
“… the one who shouts at all of the children …”

“MARY!!!”
“Yes, my sister?” the girl answered sweetly.”
“Mary, where is the oil you were to purchase?”
“Oh, I am so sorry, Martha. I forgot.”
“Foolish girl! The Sabbath begins soon. Do you expect me to bake the challah bread without oil? By now the markets will be closed.”
“I am truly sorry, Martha! But you have yet to hear the most wonderful news: Lazarus invited Jesus to join us for the Shabbat! Just imagine, sister: Jesus is on his way here! Isn’t that wonderful? That’s why I was running,” Mary continued breathlessly, “To let you know …”
“Wonderful? You foolish girl!” Martha was about to box the girl’s ear, when their brother Lazarus came running in. He also used the servants’ entrance to the kitchen, and appeared just as out of breath and disheveled as his younger sister.
“Martha, has Mary told you the wonderful news?”
“Wonderful?” Martha glared at her brother and sister. “How can you expect me to prepare a feast for Jesus and the crowd that always arrives with him? Have you noticed how much those Galilean fishermen eat? And look at this house! I can’t prepare food and clean at the same time …”
“Hush, sister!” Lazarus gently led his sister to a stool. “The house is fine! Jesus isn’t expecting a feast. We just want to break a bit of bread together while we listen to Jesus. We have plenty of wine and cheese in the storerooms. Mary: go around to the neighbors to borrow oil. There will be time to bake bread before sundown.”
“Bread and cheese?” Martha muttered. “Can you just imagine the waggling tongues at the well tomorrow? Martha served a feast of bread and cheese!”
“Is that all that concerns you, my sister? What those cackling hens around the well gossip of you?” Lazarus gave Martha a brotherly embrace. “Look, here is Mary back already with two full hins of oil. Start baking bread. I will go to hire a few extra serving girls. Let them do the work, so that you can come and listen to Jesus. Is it not amazing, Martha? He might be the Messiah, and he will be here in our house, soon!”
Lazarus hurried to the home of his friend Jacob, who had three unmarried daughters, always willing to work for their generous neighbor. He hired all three and sent them to Martha’s kitchen. Much as he loved and respected his elder sister, running the household since the deaths of their parents, he wished that she would stop fussing. His younger sister Mary was so full of the joy of life! When she sat at the feet of Jesus, she positively glowed like an angel.
Mary slipped out from under Martha’s watchful eye to join her brother outside, ready to welcome Jesus. As soon as she spotted the crowd, she ran off to join the crowd.
Martha came to stand with Lazarus. “Now where did that child go?”
“She ran to join our guests.”
“Tell her to get back to the kitchen! Those girls don’t know a date from a fig! I will have to start my honey dates rolled in crushed almonds all over!”
“Martha …” Lazarus began; but just then Jesus was at the door. To her brother’s horror, Martha went right up to Jesus and demanded, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
(Scriptures taken from the New International Version, 1979)
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Pat Small
08/26/16
I loved this. I don't know what happened with the formatting. That detracted from the reading ease, but the great conversations made it well worth the extra effort.
C D Swanson 
08/26/16
Beautiful message!
Well done,

God bless~