Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Christ in House of Martha and Mary
Johannes Vermeer / 1654

From the Book of the prophet Isaiah

Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant . . .

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An early work by Vermeer. It is likely that he freely borrowed elements from mostly Italian masters, including Jesus' face and the gesture he makes with his right hand. Mary listens attentively while her sister Martha presents the bread. Jesus says that Martha had better do like her sister.

This text and picture from Art and the Bible. http://www.artbible.info/art/