29 July, 2024 | Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

 JER 13:1-11

Gospel Jn11:19-27

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary

to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,

she went to meet him;

but Mary sat at home.

Martha said to Jesus,

"Lord, if you had been here,

my brother would not have died.

But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,

God will give you."

Jesus said to her,

"Your brother will rise."

Martha said to him,

"I know he will rise,

in the resurrection on the last day."

Jesus told her,

"I am the resurrection and the life;

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?"

She said to him, "Yes, Lord.

I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,

the one who is coming into the world."

Reflections:

What a privilege to have Jesus as a guest in our home as Martha and Mary had! Yet though physically he is not present, he is a guest in our homes not just one day or occasionally but every day. And so we should be as happy as Martha and Mary were, and joyously welcome him, contemplating his unfailing love, and then serving him and doing whatever is required of us. Though Martha is hustling and bustling in order to serve the Lord, Jesus made her understand that the only one thing absolutely necessary for all disciples is to listen to him when he is present. Martha was transformed by these words of Jesus and so she could later on proclaim, “I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God.” This is a perfect confession of faith like that of Peter in Mt16:16; such a deep faith in the person of Jesus is a must to win his favour and to be a beloved disciple of him. 

Activity: 

Write down which of your daily actions testify that  your faith in Jesus is total.