Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
Lectionary: 401/607
Reading 1
Jeremiah 13:1-11
The LORD said to me: Go buy yourself a linen loincloth;
wear it on your loins, but do not put it in water.
I bought the loincloth, as the LORD commanded, and put it on.
A second time the word of the LORD came to me thus:
Take the loincloth which you bought and are wearing,
and go now to the Parath;
there hide it in a cleft of the rock.
Obedient to the LORD’s command, I went to the Parath
and buried the loincloth.
After a long interval, the LORD said to me:
Go now to the Parath and fetch the loincloth
which I told you to hide there.
Again I went to the Parath, sought out and took the loincloth
from the place where I had hid it.
But it was rotted, good for nothing!
Then the message came to me from the LORD:
Thus says the LORD:
So also I will allow the pride of Judah to rot,
the great pride of Jerusalem.
This wicked people who refuse to obey my words,
who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts,
and follow strange gods to serve and adore them,
shall be like this loincloth which is good for nothing.
For, as close as the loincloth clings to a man’s loins,
so had I made the whole house of Israel
and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD;
to be my people, my renown, my praise, my beauty.
But they did not listen.
Responsorial Psalm
Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20, 21
R. (see 18a) You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you,
You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing
and anger toward his sons and daughters.
R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
“I will hide my face from them,” he said,
“and see what will then become of them.
What a fickle race they are,
sons with no loyalty in them!”
R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
“Since they have provoked me with their ‘no-god’
and angered me with their vain idols,
I will provoke them with a ‘no-people’;
with a foolish nation I will anger them.”
R. You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
Alleluia
John 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 11:19-27
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary
to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
"Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you."
Jesus said to her,
"Your brother will rise."
Martha said to him,
"I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day."
Jesus told her,
"I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?"
She said to him, "Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world."
Or:
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
A Holy and Imperfect Family
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” John 11:19–22
Today’s memorial is relatively new within our Church. In the year 2021, Pope Francis replaced the Memorial of Saint Martha with this memorial in honor of all three siblings: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In commenting on the reason for this new memorial, the Congregation for Divine Worship stated: “Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words, and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death.” Furthermore, these three siblings gave an evangelical witness to us all. They model for us how to be Christians within our imperfections. They did this by welcoming Jesus into their home, by listening to Him attentively, and by believing that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
These three siblings each had their own unique personality and loved Jesus in their own way. Though not much is said about Lazarus’ personal interactions with Jesus, we do have some helpful insights into both Martha and Mary. In one Gospel story, Martha complained to Jesus that her sister left her to do all the cooking. Jesus gently corrected her. Mary, on the other hand, gave a witness of deep prayer and love of Jesus by sitting at His feet listening to Him. However, in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, there is a reversal of roles. Martha is the one who runs out to meet Jesus and expresses her deep faith in Him. Mary, on the other hand, heard that Jesus was coming and appeared to stay at home because she was upset.
Perhaps the most helpful way to ponder these siblings is to acknowledge two things. First, they are now saints in Heaven enjoying eternal beatitude and glory. Second, on earth they were people of faith and love, but they were also very clearly imperfect. Therefore, the witness they give to us should be twofold. We hope to share in the glory in which they now share, and we trust this will happen if we also befriend our Lord and welcome Him into our homes, imperfect though we may be.
Reflect, today, upon this holy but imperfect family. The imperfections and manifest weaknesses of these three siblings should encourage us to press on in our practice of the faith when things are not perfect in our lives either. There are many reasons why we might get discouraged or feel like doubting or giving up at times. Perhaps things are not perfect within the Church—or at the particular church you attend. Perhaps you are struggling with loving someone in your family. Perhaps you are struggling with an emotional issue. Perhaps there is some sin you seem to be incapable of overcoming. Perhaps you struggle with a physical ailment and wonder why God permitted it to happen. If you are able to relate to any of these, or any other forms of imperfection, then take inspiration from this family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Invite Jesus into the home of your heart, your family home and everywhere you go. He will come, gently correct you when needed, and give you the gift of new life, raising you up from your sins and weaknesses.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
DEAD WRONG OR ALL RIGHT?
“Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to Him and said, ‘Lord...’ ” —Luke 10:40
St. Martha questioned whether Jesus was concerned about her situation (Lk 10:40). She also felt “all alone” (Lk 10:40). Next, she felt compelled to order Jesus to order her sister, St. Mary, to help her (Lk 10:40). Martha was wrong on all counts. Jesus did care about every aspect of her life (see 1 Pt 5:7). He loved her very much (Jn 11:5) and would give His life for her. Secondly, although Martha did not have the kitchen help she wanted, she had Jesus, Who is God and Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), as her dinner Guest. This is hardly being “all alone.” Finally, when Martha gave an order to her Lord, she contradicted the very meaning of the word, “Lord.” A lord gives orders rather than receives them.
Why was Martha so wrong about the Lord and His love? Unlike her sister Mary, she had not “seated herself at the Lord’s feet and listened to His words” (Lk 10:39). When we practice the disciplines of a disciple, when we listen, pray, and obey, we will know God cares, that we are not alone, and that He alone is Lord. Therefore, sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His words.
Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to prove me wrong (Jn 16:8).
Promise: “One thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it.” —Lk 10:42
Praise: “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus very much” (Jn 11:5).
Reflection 3
Living His Word A Day At A Time
We all value our friendships very much. However, at times (with every good and noble intention), we tend to bring to such relationships what we feel is the best for the other. In doing so, we disregard the needs and feelings of the other.
In the Gospel today, (as well as the alternate Gospel provided for the celebration of today’s memorial of St Martha), we see Martha do exactly this. In the Gospel according to Luke, Martha feels that taking care of Jesus’ material needs, and therefore preparing some food, is important; but Jesus would rather have her sit beside Him and listen to the Word that He is sharing with Mary, her sister. In the alternate Gospel according to John, Martha approaches Jesus who, on hearing of the demise of her brother, has arrived late. She says that if He had been there earlier, Lazarus would not have died. Jesus then reveals the real reason for His delay.
Perhaps we could ask ourselves, today, if we are guilty, at times, of not really being sensitive to the felt need of the other in our relationships with our friends and even with God.
Prayers
Lord, You befriended this ordinary family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. You visited their home, received their hospitality, gently corrected them when needed and eventually raised them to the new life of eternal glory. May I also welcome You into the home of my soul, within my family and into every aspect of my life. Please come to me and raise me to the newness of the life of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 210: Good Works in the Light of Divine Love
Do you work hard? Do you strive to be good? Do you want to make a positive difference? It is certainly good to try to be good. But in so doing, we must never think that our “goodness” is truly good in the eyes of God, unless it is Divine Love that has become the source of all activity in our lives. Humility enables us to turn our eyes to the One and Only source of goodness in our lives. And that source is the abundant Mercy of God. We cannot decide, on our own, to do even one single act that is good or beneficial to others. We cannot please God by our own effort, and most certainly, cannot attain Heaven or any eternal reward by our works. All is a gift and all is grace. Only the humble soul sees this and believes it. But when it sees it and believes it, great things will happen for the Kingdom of God (See Diary #1092).
Reflect upon the good works you do. As you do, see them for what they are, nothing less and nothing more. If there is goodness in your life, humble honesty will enable you to understand that this goodness is 100% dependent upon the Goodness of God. Without Mercy, you cannot do any good work. With Mercy, you can do every good work. God, at work in your soul, produces abundant blessings in this world. Reflect upon your desire to be an instrument of the abundant blessings of God in this world and rejoice, humbly, that God has chosen to use you. Say “Yes” to Him and you will see beautiful fruits for all.
Lord, please give me a humble heart. Help me to see that all good things begin with You and are only accomplished by You and Your Mercy. I give myself to You so that You may use me for Your glory. And I thank You for the privilege of being used as an instrument of Your unfailing Love. Jesus, I trust in You.
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