From the Rector

Dear Friends,

At yesterday's service, we commemorated the feast of saints Mary and Martha of Bethany. These two sisters have always been of interest to me, and they appear by name in two Gospels, indicating their importance to the overall narrative of salvation. I think that part of their importance is the domesticity which they represent, which serves to highlight the humanity of Jesus. He had friends and enjoyed a good meal and conversation. When their brother Lazarus died, Jesus wept.

Like the miracle stories, the lives and personalities of the sisters are two-sided. On the one hand, they were two people like us who lived in a certain time and place and had their own quirks. On the other hand, their human qualities underscore different elements of our faith--the contemplative and the active.

Week by week we are called to worship in the beauty of holiness. We bask in the sacramental presence of our Lord, raise our voices in prayer and praise, and are attentive to his word. But then we are sent out to "go in peace to love and serve the Lord." The sisters of Bethany are both examples for us of faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
Father Rick

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