Martha
and Mary were sisters, related not only by blood but also by
religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord and both served
him harmoniously when he was among them. Martha welcomed him as
travelers are welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant received her
Lord, the creature her Creator, to serve him bodily food while she
was to be fed by the Spirit. No one of you should say, “Blessed are
they who have deserved to receive Christ into their homes!” Do not
grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no
longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege
from you. As he says, “Whatever you have done to the least of my
brothers, you did to me.”
--
Saint Augustine of Hippo from
a sermon
