For many years today’s feast day was simply the Memorial of Saint Martha. Pope Francis gave a beautiful gift to the Church by changing it to the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. In doing so, he changed today into a celebration of family.
Inviting Jesus into Our Lives
Martha, Mary and Lazarus welcome Jesus not just with hospitality into their home, but with intimacy into the reality of their lives. In a very famous scene from the Gospel of Luke -- which was the other option for today’s Gospel reading – Martha is annoyed with her sister Mary and seeks to enlist Jesus as her Advocate in the conflict. And Jesus actually does get involved, just not with the result that Martha had hoped for!
In today’s Gospel from John, Martha candidly expresses to Jesus both her dismay that He had not been present to keep her brother Lazarus from dying, and her great faith in Jesus to work whatever miracle He asks of the Father. And Jesus responds to the death of Lazarus, and the sadness and faith of Martha and Mary, with genuine tears of His own. Finally, after Jesus does raise Lazarus from the dead, Martha and Mary throw a celebration feast, in which Martha happily serves and Mary anoints Jesus' feet in a display of extravagant gratitude!
God's Presence in the Day to Day
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus inspire us not simply to pray as a family, but also really to welcome Jesus into the intimacy of our family life. When you are caught in an undesired pattern of arguing with a spouse, a sibling, a parent, or a child, can you, in your own personal prayer, ask Jesus to help each of you to recognize your own role in the conflict, and to grow in mercy and gentleness toward the other? Can we learn to speak to the Lord in prayer as candidly and faithfully as Martha did, offering both our frustration and our trust? Can we invite God into our family celebrations?
On this last point, just to share a bit from my own life, my family has always had the sweet tradition of singing a second verse of Happy Birthday whose words are “May the dear Lord bless you.” It’s a simple reminder how we’re praying for this loved one’s life – and the new year ahead – to be guided by God’s Love. Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, you let Jesus guide the course of your family life, in ways both big and small. Pray for us and for our families!
- Father Charlie's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday–Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
