Feast of St. Martha

 Friday, July 29, 2011
Luke 10:38-42 (St. Martha)

Busy St. Martha is often portrayed in contrast to her contemplative sister Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His word.  But Martha also had a very deep and vibrant relationship with Jesus.  The brief dialogues between them recorded in the Gospels show that she spoke with Him like Moses, as one friend speaks to another.  She did not dress up her prayer, but spoke from the honesty of her true self.  And Jesus responded to her with unfailing divine good humor.  “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the serving?  Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things…”  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died…”  “Your brother will rise.” “I know he will rise at the resurrection on the last day.”  …“Take away the stone.”  “Lord,…surely there will be a stench!”  “Did I not tell you that if you believed…”  Martha was a fussy lady, but she was not afraid to let Jesus see her as she really was and to tell Him exactly how she felt.  Her honesty did not put Him off, but rather endeared her to Him. We cannot have a relationship with anyone, least of all Jesus, if what we show him is a false self.  We do not fool Jesus, nor do we have to.  He loves us as we are just as He loved Martha.  He will gradually lead us to a better self as He led her, but we have to drop the protecting pretences.  He is with us and for us.  He will never shame us or reject us.  Let us entrust ourselves to Him.