FEAST
DAY – JULY 29
Also known as
Wonder Worker of Southern Gaul
Profile
Sister of Saints Lazarus and Mary of
Bethany. Friend of Jesus, hostess to him in her house. May have been part of
an early mission to France.
Died
c.80
Patronage
butlers,
cooks,
dietitians,
domestic servants,
homemakers,
hotel-keepers,
housemaids,
housewives,
innkeepers,
laundry workers,
maids,
manservants,
servants,
servers,
single laywomen,
travellers
Representation
broom; keys; ladle
Images
Gallery of images of Saint Martha
Readings
Martha and Mary were sisters, related
not only by blood but also by religious aspirations. They stayed close to
our Lord and both served him harmoniously when he was among them. Martha
welcomed him as travelers are welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant
received her Lord, the creature her Creator, to serve him bodily food while
she was to be fed by the Spirit.
No one of you should say, "Blessed are they who have deserved to receive
Christ into their homes!" 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."
- from a sermon by Saint
Augustine
______________________
"Jesus loved Martha and
Mary and Lazarus." This unique statement in John's gospel tells us of the special
relationship Jesus had with Martha, her sister, and her brother.
Apparently Jesus was a
frequent guest at Martha's home in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem. We
read of three visits in Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9.
Many of us find it easy to
identify with Martha in the story Luke tells. Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into
her home and immediately goes to work to serve them. Hospitality is paramount in the
Middle East and Martha believed in its importance. Imagine her frustration when her sister
Mary ignores the rule of hospitality and Martha's work in order to sit and listen to
Jesus. Instead of speaking to her sister, she asks Jesus to intervene. Jesus' response is
not unkind, which gives us an idea of his affection for her. He observes that Martha is
worried about many things that distract her from really being present to him. He reminds
her that there is only one thing that is truly important -- listening to him. And that is
what Mary has done. In Martha we see ourselves -- worried and distracted by all we have to
do in the world and forgetting to spend time with Jesus. It is, however, comforting to
note that Jesus loved her just the same.
The next visit shows how well
Martha learned this lesson. She is grieving the death of her brother with a house full of
mourners when she hears that Jesus has just come to the area. She gets up immediately and
leaves the guests, leaves her mourning, and goes to meet him.
Her conversation with Jesus
shows her faith and courage. In this dialogue she states clearly without doubt that she
believes in Jesus' power, in the resurrection, and most of all that Jesus is the Son of
God. Jesus tells her that he is the resurrection and the life and then goes on to raise
her brother from the dead. Our final picture of Martha in Scripture is the one that sums
up who she was. Jesus has returned to Bethany some time later to share a meal with his
good friends. In this home were three extraordinary people. We hear how brother Lazarus
caused a stir when was brought back to life. We hear how Mary causes a commotion at dinner
by annointing Jesus with expensive perfume. But all we hear about Martha is the simple
statement: "Martha served." She isn't in the spotlight, she doesn't do showy
things, she doesn't receive spectacular miracles. She simply serves Jesus.
We know nothing more about
Martha and what happened to her later. According to a totally untrustworthy legend Martha
accompanied Mary to evangelize France after Pentecost.
But wouldn't it be wonderful
if the most important thing that could be said about us is "They served"?
In Her Footsteps
Dorothy Day said: "If
everyone were holy and handsome, it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. But it was
not Christ's way for himself. Ask honestly what you would do when a beggar asked at your
house for food. Would you give it on an old cracked plate, thinking that was good enough?
Do you think that Martha and Mary thought that the old and chipped dish was good enough
for their guest? It is not a duty to help Christ -- it is a privilege." In what ways
do you serve Christ others grudgingly or sparingly? How can you serve them the way Martha
served Christ, putting her whole self into it?
Prayer:
Saint Martha, pray for us
that we might serve Jesus better. Help us to overcome our distractions and worries to
listen to his words and be present to him this day. Amen
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