Jesus had many followers but some people in the Gospels were not only his disciples but were his close friends and true companions. Jesus enjoyed a special relationship with Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus.
Jesus loved St. Martha, St. Mary, and St. Lazarus, who spent time with Him at their home in the town of Bethany and welcomed Him to experience the spirit of family.
Martha offered hospitality by serving Jesus and making sure that He was comfortable, but she became anxious while Mary listened attentively to Jesus, quietly sitting at his feet.
This conflict between Martha and Mary allowed Jesus the opportunity to teach his friends about the difference between service and contemplation, and the importance of not being pulled away from Him or distracted by activity.
When Lazarus become sick and was in danger of dying, his sisters sent for Jesus to come and save him.
Arriving after Lazarus had already been dead for four days, Jesus wept but still called for his friend to come out of the tomb. After Jesus raised her brother from the dead, Martha professed that He was the Christ, the Son of God.
After Lazarus was restored to life, the siblings entertained Jesus again in their home. While Lazarus sat with Jesus and Mary anointed his feet with expensive perfumed oil, Martha quietly and humbly served.
The Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Martha, St. Mary, and St. Lazarus each year on July 29.
Previously a memorial honoring only St. Martha, this liturgical feast now includes St. Mary and St. Lazarus, emphasizing the importance of friendship and the desire of Jesus to be part of every human family.
Dear friends of Jesus:
Jesus liked spending time with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus:
Friends of Jesus who teach perennial, spiritual truths:
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus* and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. from her.”
John 12: 1-3
Jesus is invited into the life of this family:
Three holy siblings:
The virtue of chastity blossoms in friendship. It shows the disciple how to follow and imitate Him who has chosen us as his friends, who has given Himself totally to us and allows us to participate in his divine estate. Chastity is a promise of immortality. Chastity is expressed notably in friendship with one’s neighbor. Whether it develops between persons of the same or opposite sex, friendship represents a great good for all. It leads to spiritual communion.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2347
St. Martha is a model of humble service:
St. Mary simply loves Jesus:
Jesus responds to a conflict between Martha and Mary:
The Gospel just proclaimed takes us to Bethany, where, as the Evangelist notes, Lazarus, Martha and Mary were giving a supper for the Teacher. This banquet in the house of Jesus’ three friends was marked by presentiments of his imminent death: the six days before Easter, the suggestion of Judas, the traitor, Jesus’ answer that calls to mind one of the devout burial rites, anticipated by Mary, the hint that they would not always have him with them and the attempt to put Lazarus to death that mirrors the desire to kill Jesus. In this Gospel account there is one gesture to which I would like to draw attention. Mary of Bethany “took 300 grams [a pound] of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair”. Mary’s gesture is the expression of great faith and love for the Lord; it is not enough for her to wash the Teacher’s feet with water; she sprinkles on them a great quantity of the precious perfume which as Judas protested it would have been possible to sell for 300 denarii. She did not anoint his head, as was the custom, but his feet: Mary offers Jesus the most precious thing she has and with a gesture of deep devotion.
Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, 29 March 2010
Jesus wept at he tomb of St. Lazarus:
The raising Lazarus reveals Jesus’ authority over life and death:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
A year of asking:
Share this page with friends and family to start a conversation about your faith.
Don’t miss a post. Learn more about the Catholic Church and strengthen your Catholic faith.
Find more Fiercely Catholic video issues here.
Subscribe here.
