MARTHA AND MARY

JOSEPH JOHN GURNEY

Active, intent, with friendly ardour fraught,
Each nerve responding to some busy thought,
  The faithful Martha strives;
In sooth no wonder that for such a guest,
She deems it duteous to provide the best,
  For in his life she lives.

Yes in her gentle friend, her lowly Lord,
She views, with simple faith, the incarnate Word,
  In whom are all our springs;
Beneath that faded form, that eye of grief,
The piercing vision of her soul's belief,
  Descries the King of kings.

As Abraham erst his visitants to greet,
And then to choose and dress the daintiest meat,
  With eager footsteps ran:
Upon the mystic three, he joyed to wait,
While Abraham's Lord himself conversed and ate,
  Or seemed to eat, with man.

Not vain her labour, yet a better part
Another chose, who had as warm a heart,
  And faith as clear and strong;
Close at his feet, and level with the dust,
Adoring Mary sat, in humble trust,
  And looked and listened long.

The plaint that of the work she missed her share,
Nor helped to ply the busy housewife's care,
  Was heard, but heard in vain;
The one thing needful was her happier choice,
To learn of Jesus and in Him rejoice,
  And that she must retain.

Saviour of men, Immanuel, hear our cry, 
Give us for Thee to live, in Thee to die,
  O calm the anxious breast; 
However in thy cause we toil or roam, 
Still at thy feet provide a peaceful home,
Where we may wait and rest.