SAINTS MARTHA, MARY, AND LAZARUS (MEMORIAL)

Yes, Lord. I have come to believe. 

“God made us a family. We need one another. We love one another. We forgive one another. . . . Together we serve our God. Together we hope for heaven. These are our hopes and ideals. Help us to attain them, O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This popular prayer reminds us that each family has a vocation. Even though a family is made up of individuals who can be wildly different, they are called to love and help each other grow in holiness. Moreover, when families combine their individual strengths and weaknesses, they find that they can serve God in a way that is unique to their own family.

Today we celebrate one such family that served the Lord in its own unique way: Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. This family, made up of clearly different individuals, opened their home and their hearts to Jesus. The Gospels tell us that they faced the same struggles that many of us face: getting along with each other, dealing with the death of a loved one, and struggling to come to belief in the Lord (Luke 10:38-42; John 11:17-19, 32-36). The Gospels also tell us that Jesus loved this family, despite their individual weaknesses.

Family life is not always picture-perfect, but if the whole family tries to come together in faith, despite their differences, each member can grow in love, both for the Lord and for each other. We know that sometimes it is hard to get all family members on the same wavelength, but God can take even the most halting effort and bless it. Even if all you do is recite the family prayer above, know that you’re off to a good start.

Let’s take today’s feast as an opportunity to pray for all families, including our own. May we all take strides to grow closer to each other. May we all take strides to grow closer to the Lord together. And most important, may we all welcome Jesus into our homes and invite him to live with us, just as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus did.

“Lord, be with every family, and help them embrace their calling!”

Jeremiah 26:1-9
Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14
John 11:19-27