his heavy burden, flew down, and plucked away
one of the thorns that pierced his brow. As it did so, the blood
spurted out after the thorn, and splashed the breast of the bird. Ever
since that day the bird has had a splash of red on its bosom, whence it
is called robin-redbreast. Certainly the love of the Bethany home drew
from the breast of Jesus many a thorn, and blessed his heart with many
a joy.

We have three glimpses within the doors of this home when the loved
guest was there. The first shows us the Master and his disciples one
day entering the village. It was Martha who received him. Martha was
the mistress of the house. "She had a sister called Mary," a younger
sister.

Then we have a picture as if some one had photographed the scene. We
see Mary drawing up a low stool, and sitting down at the Master's feet
to listen to his words. We see Martha hurrying about the house, busy
preparing a meal for the visitors who had come in suddenly. This was a
proper thing to do; it was needful that hospitality be shown. There is
a word in the record, however, which tells us that Martha was not
altogether serene as she went about her work. "Martha was cumbered
about much serving." A marginal reading gives, "was distracted."

Perhaps there are many modern Christian housekeepers who would be
somewhat cumbered, or distracted too, if thirteen hungry men dropped in
suddenly some day, and they had to entertain them, preparing them a
meal. Still, the lesson unmistakably is that Martha should not have
been fretted; that she should have kept sweet amid all the pressure of
work that so burdened her.

It was not quite right for her to show her impatience with Mary as she
did. Coming into the room, flushed and excited, and seeing Mary
sitting quietly and unconcernedly at the Rabbi's feet, drinking in his
words, she appealed to Jesus, "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister
did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."

I am not sure that Martha was wrong or unreasonable in thinking that
Mary should have helped her. Jesus did not say she was wrong; he only
reminded Martha that she ought not to let things fret and vex her.
"Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things." It
was not her serving that he reproved, but the fret that she allowed to
creep into her heart.

The lesson is, that however heavy our burdens may be, however hurried
or pressed we may be, we should always keep