The story of Martha and Mary should be relatively fresh in
our minds, as it was the Gospel reading from St. Luke, just two Sundays
ago. The Prayers of the Mass, today, the
Entrance Antiphon and the Communion Antiphon all refer to incidents in the
relationship of Jesus with his friends at Bethany.
Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus were evidently close
friends of Jesus. In the house at Bethany Jesus was welcomed by Martha as a
guest and as a friend. Though he was no doubt grateful for her hospitality, Jesus
mildly rebuked Martha when she complained that Mary was not helping her with
the domestic duties. Jesus had to
correct one of his saints. This reminds us, that those who reach a saintly
level do so because they allow the Lord to correct them, to fine tune them.
In the face of correction Martha did not turn away from
Christ because he challenged her to change.
So, too, we need welcome Jesus’ correction in our spiritual lives. We labor and live amongst many worldly
distractions, and at times need to be roused out of complacency, and reminded
of the One thing that truly matters. We need to welcome this work of the Lord to sanctify us--to grant us greater faith, hope, and love. Welcoming Jesus more deeply in our houses, our lives, and hearts, always means being open to change and growth and conversion and deeper faith.
We read today of Martha’s great moment of faith, Lazarus had
died, and Martha goes out to meet the Lord.
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” “I am the resurrection and the life,” said
the Lord; “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?” “Yes Lord,”
Martha said. “I have come to believe
that you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Martha affirms that the Lord is capable doing all things,
she truly recognizes his divinity. She affirms that Jesus has power over life
and death, yet she humbly asks, Lord, if it is your will raise my brother from
the dead. She actively seeks the Lord,
she asserts his power and his divinity, and humbly submits to his will,
praying, Thy will be done, and she awaits his response. Because she welcomed the Lord more deeply into her heart, she is able to recognize Him as savior--as the one we answers are deepest longings.
Here is a Saint who knows what it means to grow, to change,
to deepen in faith, to serve, to welcome the unexpected guest, to trust in God
at the death of a love one.
May St. Martha help us not to become anxious over our
worldly duties, nor allow them to distract us from our Lord’s invitation to
find our life in Him alone. May she help us to welcome the Lord to correct our
faults and help us to love God and neighbor with ever greater love, and to
trust God with an ever deeper surrender for the Glory of God and salvation of
souls.
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