Mary and Martha; remember them? They are the sisters who were hosting Jesus for dinner one evening, except that Martha did all the work, and Mary sat at Jesus' feet for the Bible study. And when Martha complains to Jesus about it, Jesus corrects her! "Martha, Martha, you worry about so many things, but just one thing is necessary ... and Mary chose it." Ouch!

Today's gospel lesson offers us another glimpse of the same sisters, and proof that the sisters were not so different from one another. Four days earlier, the brother of Mary and Martha died; Lazarus, who was a good friend of Jesus. Oh, they sent word to Jesus that he was sick; the invitation suggests that if Jesus were to come, Lazarus would be okay. But Jesus doesn't come; not right away anyway. He waits two days, and he takes anot…