Drama: Domestic bliss

Mary
Snap out of it, Martha! Jesus said I did the right thing.

Martha
And I didn't? Since when has it been wrong to see to a guest's comfort? Isn't that what hospitality is all about? Isn't that what we're commanded to do? Isn't that what we, as good Jewish women, were brought up to do?

Mary
Don't go on about it, Martha! I had to be with him, nothing was more important at that moment.

Martha
At that moment? It wasn't just a moment! It was a good hour or more, while I sweated over a hot oven and tried to tidy the place up!

Mary
But you know Jesus, Martha. He's not fussy about fancy food or the state of the house. He came to see us, not to inspect how we live. He wanted our attention.

Martha
I was giving him my attention!

Mary
No, you weren't.

Martha
I was cooking for him, and seeing that he had everything he needed …

Mary
He didn't want that kind of attention. He wanted you to sit down and listen to him. He had things to say to us.

Martha
He could have said them over dinner! That would have been the polite thing to do!

Mary
Martha, you really can't expect Jesus to behave like a normal guest.

Martha
You don't have to tell me he's not a normal guest! Why do you think I was in such a state? Why do you think I was going to such trouble? I was so honoured to have him in our home!

Mary
Well, then, you should have listened to what he was saying.

Martha
It's impossible to get you to see sense, Mary. We may as well finish this conversation right now, because we're going round in circles.

Mary
No, Martha, you were the one going round in circles! The Son of God was sitting in our front room, teaching us wonderful things, and you were flying around with a cloth in one hand and a pot in the other!

Martha
But did he have to show me up so badly? Did he have to draw attention to me?

Mary
You drew attention to yourself, Martha. You complained about me to him, trying to get me into trouble!

Martha
So how come you knew what he wanted us to do? How come you got it right?

Mary
Jesus doesn't think like other people, Martha. He wants us to think differently, too. We have to get past what society and tradition expect of us. Those who follow him must hear his teaching. It's more important than anything else. That's why he was pleased with me.

Martha
It's hard to break the habits of a lifetime, Mary.

Mary
That's why he spoke to you gently, Martha. Did you notice how he said your name twice, so fondly?

Martha
I'm sorry, Mary.

Mary
It's alright. He takes a bit of getting used to. He's not like other men!

Martha
That's quite refreshing, really!