July 29: Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

Three siblings, friends of Jesus

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were siblings. When they welcomed Jesus into their home in Bethany, Martha served him with care, and Mary listened to him with devotion; through their prayers, they asked for the resurrection of their brother.

In the house at Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the loving spirit of family and the bond between these three siblings, and for this reason, the Gospel of John states that he loved them.

Martha served Jesus in the family home (cf. Lk 10:38; Jn 12:2), and he exhorted her to seek “the one thing necessary,” the “better part” (Lk 10:42), which Mary chose by listening to his word. When Lazarus fell ill, the two sisters sent for Jesus (cf. Jn 11:3); Martha proclaimed her faith in him (cf. Jn 11:21–27) and Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (cf. Jn 11:40–44). Martha also served during the dinner at Bethany, when her sister Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly nard (cf. Jn 12:2–3).

John recounts in his Gospel (11:19–24) the episode of Jesus’ arrival in Bethany after the death of Lazarus: And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 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.”