Memorial of Saint Martha
Lectionary: 401/607
Lectionary: 401/607
Moses turned and came down the mountain
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
tablets that were written on both sides, front and back;
tablets that were made by God,
having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God himself.
Now, when Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting,
he said to Moses, "That sounds like a battle in the camp."
But Moses answered, "It does not sound like cries of victory,
nor does it sound like cries of defeat;
the sounds that I hear are cries of revelry."
As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing.
With that, Moses' wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets down
and broke them on the base of the mountain.
Taking the calf they had made, he fused it in the fire
and then ground it down to powder,
which he scattered on the water and made the children of Israel drink.
Moses asked Aaron, "What did this people ever do to you
that you should lead them into so grave a sin?"
Aaron replied, "Let not my lord be angry.
You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.
They said to me, 'Make us a god to be our leader;
as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt,
we do not know what has happened to him.'
So I told them, 'Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.'
They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out."
On the next day Moses said to the people,
"You have committed a grave sin.
I will go up to the LORD, then;
perhaps I may be able to make atonement for your sin."
So Moses went back to the LORD and said,
"Ah, this people has indeed committed a grave sin
in making a god of gold for themselves!
If you would only forgive their sin!
If you will not, then strike me out of the book that you have written."
The LORD answered, "Him only who has sinned against me
will I strike out of my book.
Now, go and lead the people to the place I have told you.
My angel will go before you.
When it is time for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
tablets that were written on both sides, front and back;
tablets that were made by God,
having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God himself.
Now, when Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting,
he said to Moses, "That sounds like a battle in the camp."
But Moses answered, "It does not sound like cries of victory,
nor does it sound like cries of defeat;
the sounds that I hear are cries of revelry."
As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing.
With that, Moses' wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets down
and broke them on the base of the mountain.
Taking the calf they had made, he fused it in the fire
and then ground it down to powder,
which he scattered on the water and made the children of Israel drink.
Moses asked Aaron, "What did this people ever do to you
that you should lead them into so grave a sin?"
Aaron replied, "Let not my lord be angry.
You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.
They said to me, 'Make us a god to be our leader;
as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt,
we do not know what has happened to him.'
So I told them, 'Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.'
They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out."
On the next day Moses said to the people,
"You have committed a grave sin.
I will go up to the LORD, then;
perhaps I may be able to make atonement for your sin."
So Moses went back to the LORD and said,
"Ah, this people has indeed committed a grave sin
in making a god of gold for themselves!
If you would only forgive their sin!
If you will not, then strike me out of the book that you have written."
The LORD answered, "Him only who has sinned against me
will I strike out of my book.
Now, go and lead the people to the place I have told you.
My angel will go before you.
When it is time for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."
Responsorial
Psalm PS 106:19-20, 21-22, 23
R.(1a) Give
thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
AlleluiaJN 8:12
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 11:19-27
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.”
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.”
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Martha, please go here.
Meditation:
Martha said to Jesus, "I know he will rise again"
What
gives us hope and joy in the face of death? The loss of a loved one naturally
produces grief and anguish of heart. When Martha, the sister of Lazarus and a
close friend of Jesus, heard that Jesus was coming to pay respects for the loss
of Lazarus, she immediately went out to meet him before he could get to her
house. What impelled her to leave the funeral party in order to seek Jesus out?
Was it simply the companionship and consolation of a friend who loved her
brother deeply? Or did she recognize in Jesus the hope that God would restore
life?
Jesus
strengthens us in faith and hope
Martha, like many Orthodox Jews, believed in the life to come. The loss of her brother did not diminish her hope in the resurrection. She even gently chides Jesus for not coming soon enough to save Lazarus from an untimely death. Jesus does something unexpected and remarkable both to strengthen her faith and hope in the life to come and to give her a sign of what he was to accomplish through his own death and resurrection. Jesus gave to her belief a new and profound meaning: He came from the Father to defeat sin and death for us and to restore life to those who believe in him.
Martha, like many Orthodox Jews, believed in the life to come. The loss of her brother did not diminish her hope in the resurrection. She even gently chides Jesus for not coming soon enough to save Lazarus from an untimely death. Jesus does something unexpected and remarkable both to strengthen her faith and hope in the life to come and to give her a sign of what he was to accomplish through his own death and resurrection. Jesus gave to her belief a new and profound meaning: He came from the Father to defeat sin and death for us and to restore life to those who believe in him.
Jesus
gives abundant life now and forever
Jesus states unequivocally the he himself is the Resurrection and the Life. The life he offers is abundant life - life which issues from God himself. And everlasting life - the fullness of life which knows no end. Do you seek the abundant life which Jesus offers to those who believe in him?
Jesus states unequivocally the he himself is the Resurrection and the Life. The life he offers is abundant life - life which issues from God himself. And everlasting life - the fullness of life which knows no end. Do you seek the abundant life which Jesus offers to those who believe in him?
"Lord
Jesus, you are the Resurrection and the Life. Strengthen my faith and hope in
your promises that I may radiate the joy of the Gospel to others."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The voice of life and joy that awakens
the dead, by Athanasius of Alexandria (295-373 AD)
"I
am the voice of life that wakens the dead. I am the good odor that takes away
the foul odor. I am the voice of joy that takes away sorrow and grief.… I am
the comfort of those who are in grief. Those who belong to me are given joy by
me. I am the joy of the whole world. I gladden all my friends and rejoice with
them. I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). (excerpt from HOMILY
ON THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS)
MONDAY, JULY 29, LUKE 10:28-32
(Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34; Psalm 34)
(Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34; Psalm 34)
KEY VERSE: "I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God" (v.27).
TO KNOW: Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus were good friends of Jesus. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was gravely ill, he made plans to go to their home in Bethany (near Jerusalem where his passion and death awaited him). Jesus was delayed in coming, and upon his arrival, Martha told Jesus that he was too late; her brother had already died. Although she reproached Jesus for not coming sooner, she declared her faith in him that God would give him whatever she asked. Jesus told Martha that he was the "resurrection and the life" (v.25), and all who believed in him would share eternal life with him. Jesus asked Martha if she believed his words, and she responded with the same profession of faith that Peter spoke at Caesarea Philippi: "You are the Messiah, the Son of God" (Mt 16:16).
TO LOVE: In what ways can I help others cope with their grief?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me the faith to believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Memorial of Saint Martha
Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus were friends of Jesus. In the famous incident in Luke's gospel (10:38-42), Martha was hostess to Jesus in her house. She demanded that Jesus tell her sister Mary to help her. Jesus commended Mary as choosing the better part, sitting at his feet and listening to his word (singular in the Greek). Martha and her sister Mary were not only related by blood but also by religious aspirations. Christian discipleship is first and foremost devotion to Jesus, the “one thing required” (Lk 10:42). This relationship shows itself in loving service, but without prayer, care for others’ needs may not be love. Martha may have been part of an early mission to France. She is known as the "Wonder Worker of Gaul."
Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says, "Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me."-- Saint Augustine
Monday 29 July 2019
St Martha
Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34. Psalm 105(106):19-23. Matthew 13:31-35.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good – Psalm 105(106):19-23
‘I will speak to you in parables …’
Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34. Psalm 105(106):19-23. Matthew 13:31-35.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good – Psalm 105(106):19-23
‘I will speak to you in parables …’
In this pair of parables that reflect his hearers’ life
experience, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to the tremendous growth
potential of a tiny mustard seed and to the capacity of yeast to permeate a
large amount of flour. An agricultural parable and a baking one. Common, relatable
images of incredible generativity and abundance emerging out of something
seemingly unnoticeable. Both parables call to mind the Paul Kelly protest song
‘From little things big things grow’.
Moreover, both imply that Jesus’ saving message is directed to
all humankind and that we, his disciples, have a role in disseminating it. Lord
Jesus, be present to me in all that I do. Tend the seeds of your love within
me. Prepare me to help others to grow in faith. Enable me to trust in the
growth that is happening seemingly without me noticing.
Saint Martha
Saint of the Day for July 29
(b. 1st century)
 |
| Detail | Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Joseph of Arimathea, the Virgin and Mary Magdalene, including s. Martha and Philip Benizi | Giovanni Bellini |
Saint Martha’s Story
Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were evidently close
friends of Jesus. He came to their home simply as a welcomed guest, rather than
as one celebrating the conversion of a sinner like Zacchaeus or one
unceremoniously received by a suspicious Pharisee. The sisters feel free to
call on Jesus at their brother’s death, even though a return to Judea at that
time seems almost certain death.
No doubt Martha was an active sort of person. On one occasion,
she prepares the meal for Jesus and possibly his fellow guests and forthrightly
states the obvious: All hands should pitch in to help with the dinner.
Yet, as biblical scholar Father John McKenzie points out, she
need not be rated as an “unrecollected activist.” The evangelist is emphasizing
what our Lord said on several occasions about the primacy of the spiritual:
“…[D]o not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your
body, what you will wear…. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his
righteousness” (Matthew 6:25b, 33a); “One does not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4b);
“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” (Matthew 5:6a).
Martha’s great glory is her simple and strong statement of faith
in Jesus after her brother’s death. “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and
the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone 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 Messiah, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world’” (John 11:25-27).
Reflection
Scripture commentators point out that in writing his account of
the raising of Lazarus, Saint John intends that we should see Martha’s
words to Mary before Lazarus was raised as a summons that every Christian must
obey. In her saying “The teacher is here and is asking for you,” Jesus is
calling every one of us to resurrection—now in baptismal faith, forever in
sharing his victory over death. And all of us, as well as these three friends,
are in our own unique way called to special friendship with him.
Saint Martha is the Patron Saint of:
Cooks
Housewives
Servants
Waiters and Waitresses
Housewives
Servants
Waiters and Waitresses
Lectio Divina: St. Martha - Lk. 10:38-42
Lectio Divina
Monday, July 29, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father and protector,
without You nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings You have given to the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
without You nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings You have given to the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha
welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet
listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and
said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the
serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha,
you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
3) Reflection
• The dynamics of the account. The condition of Jesus as an
itinerant teacher offers Martha the possibility to receive Him in her house.
This account presents the attitude of both sisters: Mary sitting down at Jesus’
feet is all taken up listening to His Word; Martha, instead, is taken up
completely by many services and she gets close to Jesus to protest about her
sister’s behavior. The dialogue between Jesus and Martha occupies a long space
in the account (vv.40b-42): Martha begins with a rhetorical question, “Lord, do
You not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself?”;
then she asks for the intervention of Jesus so that He can call the sister back
to the domestic work which she has abandoned: “Tell her to help me”. Jesus
answers in an affectionate tone; this is the sense of the repetition of the
name, “Martha, Martha”: He reminds her that she is concerned about “many
things”, and in reality she needs “only one” and He concludes by recalling that
the sister has chosen the best part, and it will not be taken away from her.
Luke has built up this account on a contrast: the two different personalities
of Martha and Mary; the first one is all taken up by “many things”, the second
one does not do even one, she is all taken up with listening to the Master. The
purpose of this contrast is to underline the attitude of Mary who dedicates
herself to listen fully and totally to the Master, thus becoming the model for
every believer.
• The person of Martha. She is the one who takes the initiative
to receive Jesus in her house. In dedicating herself to receive the Master she
is full of anxiety for the multiplicity of things to be prepared and by the
tension of seeing herself alone to do it all. She is taken up by so much work,
she is anxious, and experiences a great tension. Therefore, Martha “goes to
Jesus” and addresses to Him a legitimate question for help: why should she be
left alone by the sister? Jesus answers seeing that she is only worried, she is
divided in the heart between the desire of serving Jesus with a meal worthy of
His person and the desire to dedicate herself to listen to Him. Jesus,
therefore, does not disapprove of Martha’s service, but only the anxiety with
which she does it. Before, Jesus had explained in the parable of the sower that
the seed that fell among the thorns recalls the situation of those who listen
to the Word, but allow themselves to be taken up by other concerns (Lk 8:14).
Therefore, Jesus does not disapprove of Martha’s work, the value of acceptance
and welcoming concerning His person, but He warns the woman about the dangers
into which she may fall: anxiety and agitation. Jesus had already said
something about these risks: “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and everything
else will be given to you as well” (Lk 12:31).
• The person of Mary. She is the one who accepts the Word: she
is described with the imperfect form: “she was listening”, a continuing action
in listening to the Word of Jesus. Mary’s attitude is in contrast with her
sister’s anxiety and tension. Jesus says that Mary has preferred “the best
part” that corresponds to listening to His Word. From the Word of Jesus the
reader learns that there are not two parts of which one is qualitatively better
than the other, but there is only the good one: to accept His Word. This
attitude does not endorse avoiding one’s own tasks or daily responsibilities,
but only the knowledge that listening to the Word precedes every service, every
activity.
• Balance between action and contemplation. Luke is particularly
attentive to link listening to the Word to relationship with the Lord. It is
not a question of dividing the day in times dedicated to prayer and others to
service, but attention to the Word precedes and accompanies the service. The
desire to listen to God cannot be replaced by other activity: it is necessary
to dedicate a certain time and place to seek the Lord. The commitment to cultivate
listening to the Word comes from the attention to God: everything can
contribute: the environment of the place, the time. However, the desire to
encounter God should come from within one’s own heart. There is no technical
element which automatically leads one to encounter God. It is a problem of
love: it is necessary to listen to Jesus, to be with Him, and then the gift is
communicated, and falling in love begins. The balance between listening and
service involves all believers, in family life as well as in professional and
social life: What can we do so that baptized persons persevere and attain
maturity of faith? We should train ourselves to listen to the Word of God. This
is the most difficult but surest way to attain maturity of faith.
4) Personal questions
• Do I know how to create in my life situations the paths of
listening? Do I limit myself only to listen to the Word of God in church, or
rather, do I dedicate myself to personal and profound listening, looking for
suitable times and places?
• Do you limit yourself to a private use of the Word or do you proclaim it in order to become light for others and not only a lamp which lights one’s own private life?
• The Church has a long history in the Fathers and Doctors of the Church to help understand how to listen to the Word of God. Have you read and learned from this treasure of the Church to enable more profound listening?
• Do you limit yourself to a private use of the Word or do you proclaim it in order to become light for others and not only a lamp which lights one’s own private life?
• The Church has a long history in the Fathers and Doctors of the Church to help understand how to listen to the Word of God. Have you read and learned from this treasure of the Church to enable more profound listening?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh, who can find a home in Your tent,
who can dwell on Your holy mountain?
Whoever lives blamelessly, who acts uprightly,
who speaks the truth from the heart. (Ps 15:1-2)
who can dwell on Your holy mountain?
Whoever lives blamelessly, who acts uprightly,
who speaks the truth from the heart. (Ps 15:1-2)
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