The Sisters
She opened her door to him. The minister from her church. She showed him a seat, and beckoned her sister's help in preparing something for lunch. She laid out meats and cheese, crackers and fruit. The rolls were fresh, but as she set them on the table, she took note that her sister, the younger of the two, had wandered into the other room, to sit and listen to the reverend.
There was work to be done. She sliced the rolls in half, cut cubes of cheese and laid them out on the plate, just so. She huffed a few times, hoping the exasperated sound would seep into the other room and remind her sister of her responsibility.
Their mother had always said, "A host must serve. Every guest must be served." She looked at the food she was preparing, by herself. While her sister sat and listened to the minister, rather than do the task assigned.
She stepped through the doorway dividing the kitchen from the living room. Reverend Joseph was sitting on the sofa, sipping from a mug of hot tea, he'd been given before the food preparation began. Her sister sat on the floor, legs crossed, arms stretched out behind her, baring her minimal weight. The younger was still a child at heart.
The stomping of an irritated foot on the wooden floor drew their attention.
"You should be assisting me in the kitchen," she said to her sister.
As the younger one began to rise from the floor, Reverend Joseph cut in. "It's okay," he said., directing his words to both young women. "I know you've heard this story before, but just listen for a moment. You've heard of Bethany. I assume it was nothing more than a small settlement on the road to Jerusalem. I may be wrong, but bear with me for a moment. You know how the story goes. Jesus and his friends were traveling. These two sisters lived together. They invited the travelers in. Now, Mary chose to listen to Jesus, sitting at his feet. I have no idea what they were talking about. It isn't really all that important. Martha, on the other hand was all wrapped up in preparations for the meal. Not that the work of laying out lunch for a guest wasn't important, but Mary had chosen what was better, sitting at the feet of her Lord and absorbing his grace.
The older sister, feeling a bit chastised, came into the room. She sat on the couch. She was Martha in this scene from Luke's gospel. She understood her part in the story Reverend Joseph had shared. "So what were you two talking about?" she asked, then continued, "The readings from this past Sunday were interesting, especially the gospel. I love the story about Simon the Pharisee and the woman who cried on Jesus' feet."
The reverend smiled and seemed to hold back a chuckle.
"So, what were you two talking about?"
Reverend Joseph turned toward the older sister. He gave her his full attention and said, "Well, you see, the bases were loaded in the bottom of the ninth, and the score was tied...
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