On January 26, 2021, Pope Francis decreed that July 29 be celebrated as the memorial not only of St. Martha, but along with her, her siblings Mary and Lazarus, because he considered “the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, in believing that he is the resurrection and the life.” Before that, July 29 was dedicated solely to St. Martha. I delivered the following homily on July 29, 2002, a month after I was ordained a priest. “Friends of Jesus” is applicable indeed to the three siblings of Bethany.
“Friend of Jesus”—one of the most endearing epithets one can ever hope to have. In the gospels, it is without doubt that this is applied to our saint of today, St. Martha. We see her name in several episodes in the gospels of Luke and John:
· on the occasion when she was gently reproved by Jesus for her complaint that her sister Mary did not help her with the work she was doing (Luke 10:38-42);
· in the gospel of John when her faith was the occasion for Jesus’ famous words “I am the resurrection and the life” and for the miracle of Lazarus being raised to life (John 11:1-46);
· also in John, Jesus having supper again at Bethany where she served him, six days before the Passover (John 12:1-2)
All these happened in the context of Jesus’ visit to her house with him moving out of his way to meet her. Hence, we can say that the coming of Jesus into our lives, his friendship with us, is primarily his prerogative. But it does not end there. We see in Martha the joy and desire to welcome him, the faith that accompanied this openness. Yes, she made it happen—this act of accepting Jesus.
In our relationship with Jesus, in our friendship with him, what is the given? Jesus himself who comes! What else is needed? Our part. Yes, like Martha, our response, our welcome, our faith—all these are needed to make it happen.
And when this happens, we shall savor—not only with the speculation of the mind but also with the contemplation of the heart—the epithet: friends of Jesus.
29 July 2002
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