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Sunday,
July 18, 2004The lesson for this
morning:
Editor's introduction to The Sons of Martha by Rudyard
Kipling
There is more than one kind of aristocracy.
Luke tells us the story: Mary and Martha, the sisters of
Lazarus, were entertaining Jesus and his disciples. Martha rushed about the
kitchen and household, seeing to the cooking, bringing wash basins, changing
towels, and doing the other things needful when one's home has been
unexpectedly invaded by a celebrity and his entourage.
"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a
certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her
house.
"And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus
feet, and heard his word.
"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to
him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve
alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.
"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha,
thou are careful and troubled about many things:
"But one thing is needful: Mary hath chosen that good
part, which shall not be taken away from her."
(Luke 10:38-42)
Much has happened since then; but Rudyard Kipling tells us, we sons of
Martha have yet to pay the final reckoning.
Imperial Stars Vol. I: The Stars at War,
Jerry Pournelle, ed. p. 227
The Sons of Martha
Rudyard Kipling 1907
The sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part;
But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart.
And because she lost her temper once, and because she was rude to the Lord her Guest,
Her Sons must wait upon Mary's Sons, world without end, reprieve, or rest.
It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and cushion the shock.
It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that the switches lock.
It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain,
Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main.
They say to mountains, "Be ye removed." They say to the lesser floods, "Be dry."
Under their rods are the rocks reproved-they are not afraid of that which is high.
Then do the hill-tops shake to the summit-then is the bed of the deep laid bare,
That the Sons of Mary may overcome it, pleasantly sleeping and unaware.
They finger death at their gloves' end where they piece and repiece the living wires.
He rears against the gates they tend: they feed him hungry behind their fires.
Early at dawn, ere men see clear, they stumble into his terrible stall,
And hale him forth a haltered steer, and goad and turn him till evenfall.
To these from birth is Belief forbidden; from these till death is Relief afar.
They are concerned with matters hidden - under the earthline their altars are-
The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to restore to the mouth,
And gather the floods as in a cup, and pour them again at a city's drouth.
They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work loose.
They do not teach that His Pity allows them to drop their job when they dam'-well choose.
As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and the desert they stand,
Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren's day may be long in the land.
Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path more fair or flat -
Lo, it is black already with blood some Son of Martha spilled for that!
Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness to any creed,
But simple service simply given to his own kind in their common need.
And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessed - they know the Angels are on their side.
They know in them is the Grace confessed, and for them are the Mercies multiplied.
They sit at the Feet - they hear the Word - they see how truly the Promise runs.
They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and - the Lord He lays it on Martha's Sons!
[return to July 18, 2010 View]
===================================
And now back to work...
==================
Tom Bethell in this month's Progressive says it well: it was a mistake
going in to Iraq, but if we let the world see that 800 American casualties
will change our minds on something so important, so we cut and run, the
result will be far worse. We simply can't afford to look as if we can be
chased out.
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