I AM MARTHA

I am Martha!

Am I impatient because I was excited to serve?

To give my support to a promised adventure;

To follow a cause that was dear to me;

To participate as an active member!

My brother shared his friendship,

Opened my eyes to the politic of our people;

He brought a great moment to our mendacity.

I felt enlightened by a new promise,

I was eager to contribute in my part.

My duty has always been dispensed as required,

I would have spent more time with our guest,

But it was my duty to provide courtesy,

To cook and prepare the meal,

To ensure satisfaction and sufficiency.

I stood corrected; I smarted at my rebuke,

As the child I felt embarrassed.

Later I understood my predilection,

I was witness to an event that would pass me by,

Instead, I could be immersed in its beauty.

I waited to hear the words being taught.

Bonds were nurtured for many of us,

Interpretations were discussed by those close enough,

To report with accuracy the experiences,

And the signs and wonders being wrought.

Our home in Bethany was available,

To any of the followers of the Christ.

For they carried with them a strength;

They gave us a renewal of life,

By removing the restriction of our strife.

My sisters who followed were disciples in their own right.

They understood much of what was said;

They nurtured and counseled where they could,

Each lesson given was shared with love;

The Word was embraced with full thought.

My Brother fell sick and suffered some pain.

He was a friend of Jesus from when they were boys.

We sent a message asking for assistance;

The reply we received was immediate silence.

How devastating when Lazarus died!

He had been careful in managing his health;

A frail individual in several ways.

He was inspired by his knowledge of Christ.

He had hopes of seeing the redemption day,

For he knew life would provide a new beginning.

We laid him in the tomb when he died!

The grief was great for one so sweet.

We prayed our Lord would give him rest,

Rebirth when we were called to the judgment seat.

The days past in shadow when we cried.

I challenged the late arrival of Jesus,

Not for bitterness but out of despair,

For I knew my brother would not have died,

If only my Lord had been present there;

There was hope to keep him by my side.

I am Martha!

My Lord displayed His agony,

Of the trial of this failure of life.

Why should a soul be cast down,

To remain chained until the coming of Armageddon.

Jesus prayed! His tears the depth of His bond,

To His Brother on Earth; His father in Heaven.

He went to the tomb upon the hill;

He proclaimed the greatness of God,

And commanded a corpse to rise!

Wonder and bewilderment took our surprise,

With a spectacle presented before our eyes.

The crowd who witnessed let go a gasp,

When My Brother stood at this beckoning,

As fresh as a babe after receiving a bath.

No longer could there be dispute to our Lord’s name.

Jesus the Christ, His demonstrated claim.

I now knew He would not be with us for long.

Together with my sister we committed to follow on,

Wherever His journey was to take Him.

I still attended to my duty as hostess,

Provider, matron and house mistress.

The moneys we had were ample for our need,

We were able to remain close to our group;

We were immersed in the events that soon occurred.

The priests and the military seized our Lord;

They took Him for trial, dragged Him on parade.

They pronounced a sentence of death, for His position,

Left no compromise for those who failed,

To believe that God had sent us His Son.

We, women, again grieved for another death;

The days were dark and depressing,

We prayed a great deal and asked for relief,

That our Christ’s pain would be eased,

That His life would be a continuing blessing.

I wondered if My Brother’s death had been a test,

Of the power of light over darkness.

Who would take the realm of glory,

And place its beacon in the midst of defeat?

To conquer that which was feared beyond man’s rest.

The Easter morn opened a new dawn,

For all of the children of God.

The choice was available to find a new life,

By belief and commitment to Christ;

This message delivered in the sacrifice.

The communion of the body grew;

Those who received the blessing given,

Took seriously the message of the time,

Promised to share in their daily lives,

A witness that would open eyes.

I am Martha,

For the many women who serve;

Remember, there is a gift worth giving,

There is one Lord who will provide,

Through love the greatest gift of all!

The confidence of spiritual being!

May 16th. 1996 © Will George.