Word to the Wise
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - July 29 - St. Martha
[1 John 4:7-16 and John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42,1230]"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 [Martha] 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." [John]
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025 STS. MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS
[Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28 and John 11:19-27 OR Luke 10:38-42]
"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 [Martha] 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." [John]
The gospels according to Luke and John record Jesus' relationship to the household of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Martha is the only one of the three who gets a speaking part, but the other two witness in other important ways. The character of Martha is remarkably consistent between Luke and John. She is a forceful character and not shy about chiding Jesus to get Mary, her sister, to help with chores [Luke] or Jesus' supposed failure to come in time to heal Lazarus [John]. But she also gets to make one of the most dramatic professions of faith in the gospels.
Mary preaches silently by sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to him [Luke] and by dramatically anointing Jesus' feet at her home just prior to his entrance into Jerusalem. [John] Lazarus preaches by his passive but dramatic status as the subject of Jesus' power over life and death! He is also at the banquet when Mary anoints Jesus. We are told that many of the guests came just to see him as well as Jesus! [John 12:9].
The trio we celebrate preach to us not only of discipleship but also of genuine friendship with Jesus. We are challenged to echo their message! AMEN