[W]hen sitting at her Master's feet, Mary heard his holy word. Behold her, I beseech you, Theotimus; she is in a profound tranquillity, she says not a word, she weeps not, she sobs not, she sighs not, she stirs not, she prays not. Martha, full of business passes and repasses through the hall: Mary notices her not. And what then is she doing? She is doing nothing, but only hearkening. And what does this mean—she hearkens? It means that she is there as a vessel of honour, to receive drop by drop the myrrh of sweetness which the lips of her well-beloved distilled into her heart; and this divine lover, jealous of this love-sleep and repose of this well-beloved, chid Martha for wanting to awaken her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary, Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her. But what was Mary's portion or part? To remain in peace, repose, and quiet, near unto her sweet Jesus.
--St. Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God
Image source: Johannes Vermeer, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (ca. 1654-1656), https://turningthepage.co.nz/sitting-at-the-feet-of-jesus-like-mary/ For a study of this painting, see http://www.essentialvermeer.com/cat_about/christ.html
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