Voices Found: Three brave women, VF18, 22, the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

                                                                                    

Voices Found # 18

Rejoice for women brave, who laughed and cried and sang,

who listened to angels, believed their God, from them salvation sprang.

Lift up your heart, lift up your voice, rejoice again I say rejoice

 Rejoice again, I say rejoice.

Rejoice for Sarah's mirth; she listened laughingly.

In joy she brought forth a new nation, saying, "all will laugh with me!"

Lift up your heart, lift up your voice, rejoice again I say rejoice

 Rejoice again, I say rejoice.

Words: Lisa Neufeld Thomas

Music: Mayfair, Frances McCollin, (1892-1960)

                                                         

Genesis 18:9-10

9 They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ ¹⁰Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;⁴²there is need of only one thing.^* Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.

Voices Found 22, verses 1 and 2

In life's busy moments we circle in haste,

like Martha so worried when Jesus she faced.

He comes to visit, he comes to share;

we learn to listen, we learn to care.

While Mary her sister sat listening in awe,

the Lord spoke of God's love embracing us all.

He comes to visit, he comes to share;

we learn to listen, we learn to care.

Words: Katharine L. Smith

Music: Hasting, Robert A. M. Ross

Reflection:

In an unpublished manuscript, The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Rankin wrote: Jesus answered gently, "Martha, Martha you're too busy. Come take a break and sit here with Mary. She's learning from me, as she should."

 Rankin explains that Jesus affirms Mary's quest for learning.   He helps Martha see that taking time to listen and learn is as important as serving guests.  He invites both  to sit with him, to  rest from kitchen  chores, and to  receive his blessing. He knew Crucifixion was coming.  He was preparing them to lead his people, to teach the Word; to proclaim Resurrection!

 

 

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For background and performance suggestions please see The Leader's Guide to Voices Found