The memorial of Martha, Mary and Lazarus 2025

 

Jesus’ humanity comes to the fore in so many different ways when we are reading the gospels. Jesus could get emotional. He could get frustrated by his disciples’ lack of understanding. He was fearful as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. He felt for people who were mourning the loss of loved ones and so forth. But I like the way he could be especially close to certain people and particular families. Each one of us have close friends, people with whom we feel more at home with than others. So also with Jesus. One particular family that Jesus was close to was made up of two sisters and a brother whose feast we celebrate today – Mary, Martha and Lazarus. This is a new feast, by the way. Up until 26 January, 2021, July 29 was the feast of St Martha. But Pope Francis decreed that the feast dedicated to Martha should also include her sister and brother. This is how the decree on the celebration of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus begins, “In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the gospel of John states that he loved them. 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.” It is a lovely description of this family and how Jesus was close to them. But I would like to add that this was a family that, like all families, had its own internal tensions and squabbles, as we see in today’s familiar gospel from Luke 10:38-42 where Martha complains to Jesus because he is letting Mary sit at his feet while Martha does all the work serving the guests. Aah, this is such a homely scene that it makes it so easy to relate to Jesus on a very human level. If you have any family difficulties, justy take it to Jesus. He’s been there before. Not that he’s going to solve your family disputes or tensions; rather, he will just sit you down and say, “Don’t be too hard on your sister or brother. We each have our part to play. And I still love you as you are, a family that will always make me feel at home.”