Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor

“St Peter Walking on the Water”
by Alessandro Allori, 1590s

(Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time)

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Alphonseus Liguori

Readings for Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time[i][ii]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[iii]

Reading 1: Numbers 11:4b-15

The children of Israel lamented,

“Would that we had meat for food!

We remember the fish we used to eat without cost in Egypt,

and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks,

the onions, and the garlic.

But now we are famished;

we see nothing before us but this manna.”

Manna was like coriander seed and had the color of resin.

When they had gone about and gathered it up,

the people would grind it between millstones or pound it in a mortar,

then cook it in a pot and make it into loaves,

which tasted like cakes made with oil.

At night, when the dew fell upon the camp, the manna also fell.

When Moses heard the people, family after family,

crying at the entrance of their tents,

so that the LORD became very angry, he was grieved.

“Why do you treat your servant so badly?” Moses asked the Lord.

“Why are you so displeased with me

that you burden me with all this people?

Was it I who conceived all this people?

Or was it I who gave them birth,

that you tell me to carry them at my bosom,

like a foster father carrying an infant,

to the land you have promised under oath to their fathers?

Where can I get meat to give to all this people?

For they are crying to me,

'Give us meat for our food.’

I cannot carry all this people by myself,

for they are too heavy for me.

If this is the way you will deal with me,

then please do me the favor of killing me at once,

so that I need no longer face this distress.”

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Commentary on Nm 11:4b-15

We see in this excerpt following the departure of the people from their sojourn in Sinai that the “foreign elements” (Numbers 11:4a) were dissatisfied with just Manna and wanted meat to eat as well.  At this lament, the passage describes Moses complaint to God that the people would not be satisfied.  This lament emphasizes that it was not Moses who brought the people out of Egypt and it was not him who fed them but the Lord God who did these things. Moses (and the author) recognize that freeing the people and depositing them in their own land is beyond the strength and ability of even the prophet.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 81:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R. (2a) Sing with joy to God our help.

“My people heard not my voice,

and Israel obeyed me not;

So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;

they walked according to their own counsels.”

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

“If only my people would hear me,

and Israel walk in my ways,

Quickly would I humble their enemies;

against their foes I would turn my hand.”

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

“Those who hated the LORD would seek to flatter me,

but their fate would endure forever,

While Israel I would feed with the best of wheat,

and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

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Commentary on Ps 81:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

Psalm 81 is a song of thanksgiving. The psalm generally gives thanks for the gift of the Law and its prescriptions, recalling also the salvation brought about by God.  These strophes contain a lament for the times when Israel turned from the Law and a condemnation for those who do not hear it.

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Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

and precede him to the other side of the sea,

while he dismissed the crowds.

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

When it was evening he was there alone.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,

was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them, walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.

“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter said to him in reply,

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.”

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;

and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,

and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,

“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.

When the men of that place recognized him,

they sent word to all the surrounding country.

People brought to him all those who were sick

and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,

and as many as touched it were healed.

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Commentary on Mt 14:22-36

This passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel follows the feeding of the five thousand.  The disciples return to the boat that brought them to this remote site while Jesus stays alone to pray (recall he had just gotten word of the murder of St. John the Baptist by Herod and had come to this place to mourn him). 

The events that follow; Jesus approach to the boat, walking on the water supports the Lord’s earlier demonstration that he has power over the sea and elements (see Matthew 8:26).  St. Peter’s response to the Lord is to try to do as the Lord wishes but his fear prevents him from accomplishing what the Lord has called him to do.  This entire episode has one purpose – to allow the readings to share in the awe of the disciples as they make their profession of faith “Truly, you are the Son of God." This is account stands in stark contrast to St. Mark’s account of their response (see Mark 6:51)

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Reflection:

Normally we would not argue with those learned folks who selected the readings for the Lectionary for Mass; but today, had we been in charge, a different Psalm would have been picked.  We would have selected Psalm 127 “Unless the LORD guard the city, in vain does the guard keep watch. It is vain for you to rise early and put off your rest at night, To eat bread earned by hard toil-- all this God gives to his beloved in sleep.”

Moses and St. Peter hit the same wall in sacred scripture.  Moses is fighting through all of the grumbling and opposition in Sinai and finally, exasperated and at the point of giving up calls upon the Lord (again) to help him.  He realizes that, while he leads the people of Israel, it was not through his efforts they were freed; it was not his power that caused their release – it was the Lord God.

Similarly, St. Peter finds himself in a more dramatic situation.  The Lord calls him to walk to him on the water.  Earnestly trying to obey the Lord, he sets out; only to realize that what he is doing is impossible, become fearful, and start to sink.

If these two servants of God, arguably the most significant in the Old and New Testaments, find their faith weakening when they are confronted with seemingly impossible tasks, do we think our knowledge of and faith in God will sustain us as we go about attempting to do his will in our own lives?  Perhaps one of the greatest gifts sacred scripture gives us is the image of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary feats, but only with God’s help and support.

Moses and St. Peter call out to God in their need, Moses in prayer, St. Peter in alarm and the God comes to their aid.  This is the lesson they teach us and the lesson we need to share though our own words and attitudes.  The next time we are complemented for some accomplishment at work, school or home, let our response be “It was only with God’s help.”  Give him the Glory, for without God, in vain do we labor in the world.

Pax

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[i] ALTRE

[ii] The picture is “St Peter Walking on the Water” by Alessandro Allori, 1590s

[iii] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes”
by Tintoretto, 1579-81

Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1 Isaiah 55:1-3

Thus says the Lord:

All you who are thirsty,

come to the water!

You who have no money,

come, receive grain and eat;

Come, without paying and without cost,

drink wine and milk!

Why spend your money for what is not bread;

your wages for what fails to satisfy?

Heed me, and you shall eat well,

you shall delight in rich fare.

Come to me heedfully,

listen, that you may have life.

I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,

the benefits assured to David.

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Commentary on Is 55:1-3

The post exilic author offers God’s invitation to the heavenly banquet in the New Jerusalem, God’s Kingdom.  All that is necessary for admittance is a thirst for the Lord.  The theme of gift is emphasized as it is made clear that it is without cost or merit that eternal life is offered.  The promise of the Messiah is alluded to as the prophet recalls that God’s covenant with David – the continuation of his line, is assured.

The imagery set forward in this passage recalls the promise of adoption through living water in Baptism (“All you who are thirsty, come to the water!”) and continued grace offered through the Eucharist (“Why spend your money for what is not bread”)

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18

R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The Lord is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you,

and you give them their food in due season;

you open your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The Lord is just in all his ways

and holy in all his works.

The Lord is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

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Commentary on Ps 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18

Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. These strophes (because it is in the acrostic form – each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) although loosely assembled, praise God for his mercy and compassion and give thanks for His creation and redemption.  There is also a subtle link to the Eucharistic banquet as the promise of food is once more extended.

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Reading II: Romans 8:35, 37-39

Brothers and sisters:

What will separate us from the love of Christ?

Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,

or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly

through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,

nor angels, nor principalities,

nor present things, nor future things,

nor powers, nor height, nor depth,

nor any other creature will be able to separate us

from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Commentary on Rom 8:35, 37-39

The premise that the love of God assures salvation to the faithful is strengthened as the evangelist asks the rhetorical question “What will separate us from the love of Christ?”  Over all obstacles (human, physical, and metaphysical – “height and depth” probably referred to ancient astrological terms indicating the closest proximity and the most distant star from the zenith.) were the love of God expressed in Christ is the unshakable foundation Christian life and hope.

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Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,

he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.

The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,

his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,

“This is a deserted place and it is already late;

dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages

and buy food for themselves.”

Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;

give them some food yourselves.”

But they said to him,

“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”

Then he said, “Bring them here to me, ”

and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,

he said the blessing, broke the loaves,

and gave them to the disciples,

who in turn gave them to the crowds.

They all ate and were satisfied,

and they picked up the fragments left over—

twelve wicker baskets full.

Those who ate were about five thousand men,

not counting women and children.

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Commentary on Mt 14:13-21

St. Matthew’s account of the feeding of the multitudes framed with Jesus’ grief over hearing of the death of his cousin, St. John the Baptist.  He hopes to grieve in solitude and so takes a boat to “a deserted place by himself.”  While it is not said explicitly we assume at least some of the disciples accompanied him in the boat.  When the crowds catch up with him (Jesus is well established as an important teacher now.), he does not turn them away but continues his work among them.

Possibly continuing his formation process with the disciples, Jesus tells them to feed the hungry people rather than dismiss them.  The miracle occurs with significant symbolic numbers associated with it (five loaves and two fish would add up to seven – in Hebrew numerology the perfect or most complete number. The fragments filled twelve baskets enough for the twelve tribes of Israel.  Five thousand men was a representation for a huge number and probably not meant as a census of the participants.)

For the early Christian there would have been even more subtle symbolism as the loaves would represent the “Bread of Life” – the Eucharist and the fish – the Christian symbol that identified themselves to each other as a consequence Greek letters used.  Taken in its larger context the story is preparatory to Jesus final trip to Jerusalem.

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Homily:

“What will separate us from the love of Christ?”  St. Paul uses this as a rhetorical question with his Roman audience of Christian faithful.  They are being challenged by the civil government like St. Paul himself.  He goes on to answer his own question by indicating that there is nothing that can take away the gift of love and hope Jesus brought us.

This is an important message for many in our own faith community right now.  In spite of official statements that indicate the economy has simply “slowed down”; and even some who say the current situation is “all in our heads”, there is real pain for many of our brothers and sisters who face the reality of higher costs for food and energy while at the same time seeing their employment situation become tenuous (or even non-existent) and the value of their principle assets, their homes, erode.  The question “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” for some may no longer be rhetorical.  When hope is threatened many ask a different question –“Why is God letting this happen to us?”

It is at this very time we need to reach out for the Lord rather than push him away.  God did not create a weak dollar, fueling skyrocketing oil prices.  God did not create Adjustable Rate Mortgages or predatory lending practices.  But he did send us His Son to show us the depth of His love for us.  He did issue an invitation to place our faith in him. 

I have a strong interest in history and once in a while I will sit down with the History Channel.  Recently the host of a program was recounting the Battle of Sterling Bridge, one of battles fought between the English and the Scotts under Richard Wallace (of Braveheart fame).  As he described the likely emotions of both sides during the battle, he mentioned that when the Scotts saw they were clearly winning, their attitude became even more enthusiastic and they exerted even more effort.  At the same time, the narrator said, as the English troops saw they were loosing and defeat was inevitable, they lost heart and the tide of battle turned even more decisively. 

This same emotional state can exist within us if we allow it.  It is easy is it not to give thanks and praise to God when things are going well and all our plans for the future seem to be going in the right direction.  We may even surprise ourselves at the enthusiasm with which we embrace God.  The challenge comes when things begin to go wrong.  Especially when events we cannot control, like the economy or our health, take a serious negative turn, it is much more difficult to find that same enthusiastic embrace.

Ironically, it is at just such times as these that we should be reaching out even more emphatically to God.  We cannot, we must not forget the depth of his love for us.  We hear that historical echo from the Prophet Isaiah; “Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” From our earliest experience of God, he offers love and hope for those without hope, without love.  These words were spoken to a people who had seen Jerusalem destroyed, who had been sent as slaves to the remotest parts of the Babylonian empire.  God offers his love and hope.

We fortunate Christians see the invitation issued more forcefully.  Jesus was sent to us to show us what it means to have hope in God.  He came to show us what Isaiah meant when he said “You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat.”  He came to show us what he meant when he told his disciples “…give them some food yourselves.” How can we be separated from Christ whose body nourishes our soul?  How can we loose something that is part of us, in us and infuses us?

He showed us his love, the Father’s love in the gift of the Eucharist, the bread of life.  He feeds our spirits that we might not loose hope in times when it seems the world conspires against us.  What in deed will separate us from the love of Christ?  Our answer, like St. Paul’s is “nothing!”  We can allow the difficulties we face to turn us away if we let them, like the English troops who, in feeling defeated, defeated themselves. But God’s love is always there for us; His hand is always outstretched offering the love and support of God.  We have already won the great prize.  “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” 

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture today is “The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes” by Tintoretto, 1579-81

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

“St John Reproaching Herod”
by Mattia Preti,1662-66

Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Doctor

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Peter Chrysologus

Readings for Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17

The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,

“Seven weeks of years shall you count–seven times seven years–

so that the seven cycles amount to forty-nine years.

Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, let the trumpet resound;

on this, the Day of Atonement, the trumpet blast shall re-echo

throughout your land.

This fiftieth year you shall make sacred

by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants.

It shall be a jubilee for you,

when every one of you shall return to his own property,

every one to his own family estate.

In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee,

you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth

or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines.

Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you,

you may not eat of its produce,

except as taken directly from the field.

“In this year of jubilee, then,

every one of you shall return to his own property.

Therefore, when you sell any land to your neighbor

or buy any from him, do not deal unfairly.

On the basis of the number of years since the last jubilee

shall you purchase the land from your neighbor;

and so also, on the basis of the number of years for crops,

shall he sell it to you.

When the years are many, the price shall be so much the more;

when the years are few, the price shall be so much the less.

For it is really the number of crops that he sells you.

Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God.

I, the LORD, am your God.”

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Commentary on Lv 25:1, 8-17

The establishment of the Jubilee (taken from the Hebrew word yobel or “rams horn” blown in response to the instruction) was important for preserving economic equilibrium among the Israelites. Featured prominently is the use of the “perfect number” in Hebrew numerology 7.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!

May God have pity on us and bless us;

may he let his face shine upon us.

So may your way be known upon earth;

among all nations, your salvation.

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the nations be glad and exult

because you rule the peoples in equity;

the nations on the earth you guide.

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

The earth has yielded its fruits;

God, our God, has blessed us.

May God bless us,

and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

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Commentary on Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

The song of praise that is Psalm 67 links to the first reading in its thankfulness for the harvest, the fruits of God’s creation.

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Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus

and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.

He has been raised from the dead;

that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison

on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,

for John had said to him,

“It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,

for they regarded him as a prophet.

But at a birthday celebration for Herod,

the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests

and delighted Herod so much

that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.

Prompted by her mother, she said,

“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

The king was distressed,

but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,

he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.

His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,

who took it to her mother.

His disciples came and took away the corpse

and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

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Commentary on Mt 14:1-12

In this passage, recalling the manner of the death of John the Baptist, Herod unwittingly predicts Jesus future glory as he assumes the Lord is John the Baptist raised from the dead. His guilt over the murder of John wears heavily on him.

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Reflection:

The evil one does not need much of an opening to find ways to tilt those who are ambivalent about the faith.  Look at today’s Gospel.  King Herod was not inclined to harm John the Baptist.  He was worried about him, yes.  He thought John, because of is reputation as Holy Man and Prophet might stir up the people in revolt against him.  That is why John was arrested. 

Tradition also holds that John was critical of Herod for entering into an adulterous relationship with Herodias who had first married her uncle Herod II, had given birth to Salome her daughter, then married another uncle Herod Antipas (the Herod in our Gospel story).  It was Herodias that really wanted John killed.  She was shamed by his call to repentance and her sin was an open door for the evil one who used the occasion of the birthday of Herod Antipas to have Salome tempt Herod into offering her any thing she wanted, publicly.

In this way, John the Baptist, who had from the beginning pre-figured Christ, first announcing his coming as the Messiah, then providing some of his first disciples (remember, Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, was one of John’s disciples first), now precedes him in death.  As we hear later in the Gospel story, this event greatly affected the Lord.  The evil one could not get directly to Jesus, but he found a way to hurt him none the less. 

Following this story we see how “the worm turns” twisting the will of weak and sinful people to do his will. It is a lesson for us.  It was not the evil intent of Herod to murder John, he was tricked into the act.  Was he culpable? Absolutely.  Was he the tool of the evil one? Again, absolutely.  It has been so from the time Eve was deceived in the Garden and brought Adam with her into sin.

For us this lesson reminds us that we must constantly be on our guard.  It is easy for those whose guilt is allowed to fester to be twisted and turned into tools to use against us.  How simple it seems for that evil, which inured even the Lord of life, to injure him again because of His love for us.

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “St John Reproaching Herod” by Mattia Preti,1662-66

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

Memorial of Saint Martha

“Christ in the House of Mary and Martha”
Vincenzo Campi, c. 1580

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of St. Martha

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Martha[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Note – on this feast day the Gospel from the Proper of Saints is proper.

Reading 1: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37

The LORD said to Moses,

"These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate

at their proper time with a sacred assembly.

The Passover of the LORD falls on the fourteenth day of the first month,

at the evening twilight.

The fifteenth day of this month is the LORD's feast of Unleavened Bread.

For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.

On the first of these days you shall hold a sacred assembly

and do no sort of work.

On each of the seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD.

Then on the seventh day you shall again hold a sacred assembly

and do no sort of work."

The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the children of Israel and tell them:

When you come into the land which I am giving you,

and reap your harvest,

you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest

to the priest, who shall wave the sheaf before the LORD

that it may be acceptable for you.

On the day after the sabbath the priest shall do this.

"Beginning with the day after the sabbath,

the day on which you bring the wave-offering sheaf,

you shall count seven full weeks,

and then on the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day,

you shall present the new cereal offering to the LORD.

"The tenth of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement,

when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourselves

and offer an oblation to the LORD.

"The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the LORD's feast of Booths,

which shall continue for seven days.

On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly,

and you shall do no sort of work.

For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD,

and on the eighth day you shall again hold a sacred assembly

and offer an oblation to the LORD.

On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.

"These, therefore, are the festivals of the LORD

on which you shall proclaim a sacred assembly,

and offer as an oblation to the LORD burnt offerings and cereal offerings,

sacrifices and libations, as prescribed for each day."

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Commentary on Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37

This reading from the Book of Leviticus comes from the section identified as “Code of Legal Holiness.”  The prescriptions of celebrations mentioned recall the various saving works of God either generally through His act of creation and the gift of life or actively through intervention on behalf of the faithful.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab

R.(2a) Sing with joy to God our help.

Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,

the pleasant harp and the lyre.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

at the full moon, on our solemn feast.

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

For it is a statute in Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob,

Who made it a decree for Joseph

when he came forth from the land of Egypt.

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

There shall be no strange god among you

nor shall you worship any alien god.

I, the LORD, am your God

who led you forth from the land of Egypt.

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

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Commentary on Ps 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab

Psalm 81 is a song of thanksgiving.  These strophes support the gift of the Law and its prescriptions, recalling also the salvation brought about by God.

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Gospel: John 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."

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Commentary on Jn 11:19-27

Within the story or the death and resurrection of Lazarus we see the very human emotions of Jesus they range from confidence in his relationship with the Father at the end of the story to the all too human grief and fear as he expresses his concern at what this revelatory event has cost his close friends, Martha and Mary, as they see their brother die. The encounter describes Martha’s fear and remorse change to faith as she makes her profession of faith (“I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God”) This exchange of fear for faith seen in the witnesses is the same conversion the Gospel attempts to initiate in the Christian faithful in response to these events.

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OR

Second Option

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.”

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Commentary on Lk 10:38-42

In this encounter with Martha and Mary in St. Luke’s Gospel we see two distinct messages. First, we see the importance of the role of women and Jesus’ attitude toward them. Second we see the importance of listening to the word of God "Mary has chosen the better part".

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Reflection:

St. Martha’s role in the life of Christ resonates with those who have chosen to take an active role in service to the Church. Whether that role is in the form of lay or ordained ministry, active participation means we have chosen to assist with the labor involved in ministering to God’s people. When we choose that role, we frequently (especially over time) take ownership of the tasks and when disruptive forces come along or when it seems we have taken on more than our share we assume the Martha persona we see in the Gospels.

To place it in the form of analogy, Martha’s sister Mary represents the congregation we serve. They sit at the Lord’s feet without all the turmoil and distraction of the tasks necessary to serve the guests in which Martha (representing those of us who serve) is involved. There are times when we long for that peaceful place at the Master’s feet; there are times when we would like to go to them and say “Would you mind helping? There is much work to do here.”

It is at these times when we must remember that other role that Martha had in the life of Christ. When Mary and the other mourners were sitting with their brother Lazarus who had died, it was Martha who met the Lord (SHE MET THE LORD!) and spoke with him. Not only that but after she chastised him (completely out of place to complain to the Lord, right – we would never do that), it was Martha who was honored to make the great profession of faith. What an exalted role she played in Christ’s life.

The life and ministry of St. Martha should be a constant reminder to all of us who work for Christ in our time on earth. There will be times when we too become tired and frustrated; when we pray for a little help in doing what we have set our hearts to do for God. Like St. Martha, we are very human and prone to these outbursts. Let us pray that when our work is done and we at last are face to face with the Lord, we too many be allowed to proclaim to the heavens and earth “I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God the one who is coming into the world.”

Pax

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[1] ALTRE (Friday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time)

[2] The picture is “Christ in the House of Mary and Martha” Vincenzo Campi, c. 1580

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.