July 29 2020 - St. Martha - At the crossroads of faith

What happened in today’s Gospel is not as important as what happened after—what was not recorded in the Scriptures. 

The Lord’s interaction with Martha in the Gospel, isn’t too unlike his interaction with many of the Scribes and Pharisees.  He senses that something is off, and he corrects, instructs, and invites them to change—to metanoia—to have faith. And the Gospels do often tell us how people respond to the Lord. The Pharisees grumble and go off and conspire to kill the Lord. But not with Martha. St. Luke’s Gospel doesn’t describe how she responds, what happened next.

St. Luke leaves Martha at a sort of crossroads. How will she respond? Will she turn her back on the Lord in anger who dared to correct her, will she become resentful for the Lord taking her sister’s side? She has a choice here: what is more important? The housework or prayer? The worldly duties or growing in our love for Jesus?

Every day we are faced with this choice, aren’t we? Do we allow ourselves to become burdened with worldly duties or do we take the time we need to sit at the feet of the Lord?

Again, St. Luke Gospel doesn’t tell us what happened next. He doesn’t tell us about the choice Martha made, as he does with a number of the other characters. But in St. John’s Gospel, when we encounter Martha, presumably later in the timeline of our Lord’s earthly ministry, when her brother Lazarus has died, we see Martha, full of faith, a faith that she lacked in Luke’s story. 

In response to the death of her brother, Martha places her faith in the Lord. “I am the resurrection and the life; who ever believes in me, even if he dies, will live….Martha do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 

The death of a loved one is a sort of crossroads, too. Do we turn in anger toward God, and blame God for taking away our loved one? Or, do exercise our faith, and make a choice to believe in Christ?

As we are faced with many worldly duties today, and perhaps, even with the experience of suffering and death in the world, may we follow Saint Martha’s example, of accepting the Lord’s invitation to change, to have faith, to focus not on what is non-essential, but on Him, the better part, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That all Christians may be open to constant growth in faith, hope, and love. 

For the conversion of all who resist belief in Jesus, for the conversion of hardened sinners, atheists, and agnostics.

That those who grieve may find comfort and consolation in Christ.

For the needs of all the sick and suffering, all those undergoing surgery, and those who will die today.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, all of the souls of purgatory, and N. for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of the faithful. Through Christ Our Lord.

July 29 2019 - St. Martha - Spiritual Growth is Possible

If we only read the Gospel story about Jesus’ first visit to the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany, we might wonder why the Church considers Martha a saint at all. After all, she comes into the room complaining and controlling. She seems to have missed the point of Jesus’ visit. Sure, she is busy with the demands of hospitality, but that doesn’t make someone a saint.

Well, today we get another part of the picture. We read today from St. John’s account of Martha’s encounter with Jesus. Mary and Martha had sent news to Jesus that Lazarus had died. Jesus announced to his disciples that he wished to return to Bethany, but his disciples object, due to the recent threats on Jesus’ life; nor do they understand why Jesus would want to go anyway.

Jesus insists on the visit, and upon meeting Martha we find her full of, not unbelief, but belief. Rather than staying at home like her sister Mary, Martha goes out to Jesus. She affirms her belief that Jesus is a messianic miracle worker, she knows that God is with him.  And when the Lord reveals that he “is the resurrection and the life” she affirms her belief in this as well.

The Gospels portray Martha open to spiritual growth, open to the revelation of Jesus’ deepest identity and mission. Unlike the Pharisees, closed, resistant, prideful, Martha is open, willing to be corrected, and she makes the leap of faith.

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 make holy requests of Jesus, to trust in God at the death of a love one.
Many of us have family members and friends who are busy about worldly things, who like Martha in Luke’s Gospel, are missing out on the one necessary thing, the deep intimate communion with Jesus Christ which leads to eternal life. But, like St. Martha, spiritual growth is possible, conversion is possible, belief that Jesus is the “resurrection and the life” is possible for them as it was for her.

May St. Martha help all of us attain that spiritual growth God wants for us, may we, like her, run out to meet Jesus with our needs, may we acknowledge always and everywhere that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be open to constant growth in faith, hope, and love.
For the conversion of all who resist belief in Jesus, for the conversion of hardened sinners, atheists, and agnostics.
That those who grieve may find comfort and consolation in Christ.
For the needs of all the sick and suffering, all those undergoing surgery, and those who will die today.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, all of the souls of purgatory, and N. for whom this mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of the faithful. Through Christ Our Lord.