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Mark 5:1-9

Matthew 8:28-34

Luke 8:26-39



Two sisters were close friends of our Lord,

Who paid them visits rather frequently,

Their household gave Him shelter sweet and board

Served unto Him with joy devotedly.



But different was the sisters temperament,

One sister was of contemplative mood,

The other towards active service bent,

As cooking for the guests and serving food.



Mary and Martha were the sisters, and

They had a brother Lazarus by name,

These three would our Blessed Lord attend

When weary and stressed out at night He came.

And Mary sat by Him absorbed and still,

She hung on Jesus lips and would not move,

While Martha labored hard to make a meal,

As empty stomachs often threaten love.



The Lords support for Marys mood would bear

Dire consequences in some future day,

As earthly chores and worldly labors were

Regarded with a frown and great dismay.



Yet cooking meals seems a necessity,

If guests and freeloaders all come as friend,

Feed them!  if not, outrage and enmity

And indignation fierce are imminent.



In Holy Orders arose bitterness,

If active service was the thing to do,

Or contemplation would the fathers bless,

Which mode of piety was to pursue?



Would these two spirit-fostering modes compete?

To work, or meditate for monk and nun,

Or would these two perhaps each other feed,

As they in godly race for heaven run.



But one without the other cannot near

The pearly gates, nor the celestial throne,

Sisters they are, and both have to appear

In contemplative/active unison.



(c)Elizabeth Dandy