SAINTS MARTHA, MARY, AND LAZARUS (MEMORIAL)

Yes, Lord. I have come to believe.

Remember how Martha complained about her sister, Mary, not helping her with the chores (Luke 10:38-42)? In today’s Gospel, there’s something different about her. She makes a strong declaration of faith in Jesus in the face of her grief. She trusts in his ability to raise her brother from the dead and professes that Jesus is the Messiah (John 11:21-22, 27).

How did Martha grow so much? One key element must have been all the time that Jesus spent with her and her brother and sister, Lazarus and Mary. Being in his presence and listening to his teaching—even if it came in the form of a mild rebuke (Luke 10:41)!—must have helped her tremendously. And not just her, but her brother and sister as well. You can imagine them praying together and discussing Jesus’ teachings, helping each other embrace his word more deeply.

If you ever feel weighed down by tensions at home, think about the household of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, whose feast we celebrate today. Things weren’t always perfect for them either, but that’s where they found holiness.

Imagine, for example, the pressures the sisters must have had caring for Lazarus as his health declined. Imagine Lazarus having to let them care for him. Surely they lost their patience from time to time. Yet Jesus had taught them the value of humble service and self-giving love. He also taught them about the deep wellspring of grace available to them—grace that both strengthened them and changed their lives!

You can imitate Martha, Mary, and Lazarus by welcoming Jesus into your home. It could be as you learn to pray together, as you choose to see Christ in those you live with, or even as you work through your conflicts with humility and an open heart. That’s how you can find the holiness and transformation that Martha found.

“Come, Lord Jesus! I welcome you into my heart and my home.”

Exodus 24:3-8
Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15
John 11:27