Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus (July 29th)

Of the saints and celebrations that I could have written about this week:

July 29 -- Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

July 30 -- Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

July 31 -- Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

August 1 -- Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church [2024]

August 2 -- Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop

August 2 -- Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest

August 3 -- EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Year C)


I’ve chosen to write about St. Martha, though Pope Francis expanded the feast day to include the whole family – Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.


St. Martha has been a beloved saint across the whole history of the Church, even is she is kinda “put in her place” by Jesus when she asks him to get involved in a dispute she was having with her apparently more introverted or introspective sister Mary.


The two, Martha and her sister Mary show up in two episodes in the Gospels, the first related by St. Luke (10:38-42), when Martha invited Jesus to her house and at some point got frustrated with Mary’s “having put at the feet of Jesus” while Martha apparently was doing most of the work.


In the other episode, related in the Gospel of John (11:1-45), Martha and Mary’s brother Lazarus had fallen ill and died, and Jesus came over to their village after he had been buried, and, of course, raised him from the dead.  Again, it was Martha who informed Jesus of Lazarus’ condition, Martha who ran to him when Jesus came to their village a few days after Lazarus who had been buried, and it was Martha again, who expressed her faith in Jesus, that “even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, will be granted you,” saying in effect, that even days after Lazarus’ death and burial, Jesus would be capable of bringing him back to life.


So Martha has been remembered fondly in the church as a “doer” even if at times even “doers” need to be put in their place, to appreciate the gifts the more introverted members of the church.  


We all know, or learn that sometimes “doing something” is not needed, or even gets in the way of solution (the Book of Job), when simply being present, like Martha’s sister Mary was present to (listening to and probably even conversing with) Jesus while Martha “made dinner ready.”


Someone has to attend to the guests, or simply sit with someone who is mourning, rather keep busy for business’ sake.


However, Martha’s enthusiasm and “trying to do the right thing” work ethic has been admired and beloved in the Christian community since its very beginning.


St. Martha (and Mary and Lazarus) pray for us!



Caption: Art by Johannes Vermeer Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 1655

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