"Jesus has become the central reality, the yardstick against which all actions are to be measured. It is no coincidence that the story of Martha and Mary follows immediately on the parable of the Good Samaritan, whose actions are Christ-like. Only if we put Christ before all practical considerations--only if we clear a place for him in our hearts (rather than clear the table)--will we be able to behave as the Samaritan does. For us who (like Luke and his gentile readers) live in the time after Jesus, without the comfort of his physical presence, clearing a place for Jesus means praying. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus, despite the constant outpouring of his energy in preaching and healing, always finds time to "withdraw to some lonely place to pray." So, immediately after the story of Martha and Mary, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray:"