Mary and I, and our younger brother Lazarus have had the most exciting news. Our very good friend, Jesus is coming to visit in a few days time. He comes to see us every few months, whenever he is in this area, and we do so love hearing what he has to say. His words give us comfort and hope and joy in our dull and ordinary lives.

He has said he's coming on Wednesday, and today is Monday, so I must get on with getting ready. I think I will make pies, and some of my special cakes.  I want to clean the house from top to bottom so he won't be able to criticise my housekeeping, not that he ever has. I do pride myself in keeping the house perfect.

My sister and brother are equally excited about the visit, and keep chattering away to each other about what they are going to tell him, and what they are going to ask him. But does Mary offer to help me clean? No. And does she offer to help me bake or even do the shopping? No. I work my fingers to the bone, and they don't seem to appreciate what I do, but I know that Jesus will appreciate it. He will compliment me on my good food, and he will say how pretty and sweet smelling the house is. All these hours of work that I am putting in will be worth it, because I know he will appreciate what I have done.

It is now Wednesday and we are eagerly awaiting the sound of his arrival. And here he is now. We all run down the path and throw ourselves into his arms. He looks very pleased to see us too, and put an arm each around Lazarus and Mary as they continue to walk up the path. I'm sort of awkwardly hanging on at the back.

"Please come inside, Jesus," I say, "and make yourself at home. Let me get you a drink and some current cake that I made specially for you."

But Mary says, "Don't bother with that, Jesus. Sit here,"as she motions to the large rocks in the front yard, "and tell us about the glories of God's kingdom and how we can inherit it."

"Yes," agrees Lazarus, "we are so eager to hear your words."

I frowned, but could hardly drag him into the house. So he sat on one of the big rocks, and Mary sat at his feet on one side, and Lazarus on the other. Jesus started talking in parables, stories many of which he had told us before, but with a different twist, and always a very important moral.  I sort of stood awkwardly half listening. I enjoyed hearing him speak, of course, and loved his stories as much as the others did, but I was worried about my pie that I had left it the oven. If I didn't take it out soon, it would burn, and what would Jesus think of me then.  I sort of shuffled nervously and then made up my mind to leave them to go inside to tend the cooking.

Jesus looked up, smiled and me and said, "Martha, Martha. I know you mean well, but I am here with you for such a short time. Come and sit with us."

"But the pie will burn. I have worked so hard these days to make the house and food perfect for you, I don't want to ruin it now."

"You don't understand, Martha. All the nourishment that is needed is to listen to the word of God. I appreciate that you have worked hard, but now the best thing you can do it just sit quietly and take advantage of the limited time we have together."

Mary looked impatiently at me, as if I was spoiling her time with Jesus. And then Jesus made matters worse for me by choosing her way. "Mary has taken the better part, by concentrating herself on my words."

I was so jealous. Why should he single her out? She was lazy and selfish, and I loved him as much as she did. I ran into the kitchen crying and rescued my not much appreciated pie just in time. As I sat there with my head in my hands, I was startled to see that Jesus had followed me into the house.

"Mary," he said. "You worry too much about things of this world. The important things are not what you see and what you eat, but what you hear and what you do. Please come and talk with us again."  So of course I did. After all he asked me specially.  And we did have a lovely afternoon. And he did eat my pie, and said it was very delicious. But somehow, after he came in to me, I felt easier about things - and understood what he meant about there being a time and place for everything. I knew that when I was with him, my priority should be listening to him, not worrying that he wouldn't give me credit for my hard work. I think I learned my lesson. But it was a very good pie.