Throughout the liturgical year of the Church, the feasts and memorials celebrating the saints provide opportunities to learn from their witness and ask for their intercessory prayers.
Occasionally, changes are made to the liturgical calendar. Most of these changes go unnoticed, but there is always wisdom and grace the Church seeks to impart with any adjustment to the liturgical calendar.
One recent change to the General Roman Calendar added two saints to July 29.
Previously, July 29 was the Memorial of St. Martha. Now, in addition to St. Martha, July 29 is the Memorial of Ss. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
What is the Church teaching us in celebrating these three saints together? How do they each witness living in relationship with Jesus?
Learning from the saints
Including Mary and Lazarus in the liturgical celebration of Martha, gives witness to the centrality of family life.
“In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus” (Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship).
Jesus desires to be welcomed into family life and to grow in friendship with families.
This happens by family Scripture reading, particularly the Gospels, and as parents model prayer by speaking to Jesus.
This can also happen by welcoming another person into your home.
As a single adult, I have experienced this on multiple occasions. It is truly a gift to be welcomed into a family home.
Family life is busy and often hectic, but when space and time are made available for Jesus and for others, families grow in love and hospitality together.
Looking at the lives of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, both individually and as a family, we see they each witness to a different aspect of living in relationship with Jesus.
In Luke’s Gospel, the familiar account of Martha and Mary is often seen as Martha choosing to be busy and Mary choosing to just be with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42).
The Raising of Lazarus, in John’s Gospel, brings a slightly different perspective to light about these two sisters.
After Lazarus has died, John says, “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home” (John 11:20).
In this passage, Martha’s action prompts her to go to Jesus, whereas Mary again remains attentively present with the person before her.
Both Martha and Mary’s responses are good! Both responses are the fruit of their relationship with Jesus.
Martha exemplifies hospitality. Martha is attentively present to both Jesus and Lazarus. What does Lazarus himself teach us?
Upon seeing Lazarus dead, Jesus wept. The grieving heart of Jesus allows us to understand the depth of friendship and love between Jesus and Lazarus.
When Jesus commanded, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43), “Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death” (Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship).
Lazarus’ friendship with Jesus is so intimate that, even in death, Lazarus recognizes the voice of the Lord and follows His command without hesitation.
What to reflect on
The addition of Mary and Lazarus to the liturgical celebration of Martha gives us all an opportunity to reflect on family life and our own friendship with Jesus.
Is your family or your home a place of welcome for Jesus and others? Do you seek to grow in friendship with Jesus?
The witness of these three saints gives a balanced approach to our spiritual lives.
Our prayer, as we sit at the feet of Jesus with Mary, should lead us to have the hospitality of Martha and the responsiveness of Lazarus.
Is there one of these areas that you would like to grow in or needs some more focus in your life?
May the witness of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus spur us to grow in friendship with Jesus.
May he be the center of our homes, our hearts, and our families so that we may be joyful witnesses in our communities.
Ss. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, pray for us!
Sarah Pandl is a member of St. Christopher Parish in Verona and works for The Evangelical Catholic.