The Friends of Bethany

Homily for the Memorial of Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus

Today’s memorial is something new in that it now includes Mary and Lazarus of Bethany in addition to Martha of Bethany. As I mentioned on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, this change was made in order to update our thinking about the various different women in the Gospel who are named Mary.

The Gospel is certainly one of the more poignant scenes of all four of the Gospels. Each Gospel features some story about Jesus raising people from the dead: the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Nain, and the story we hear proclaimed today. There is one very telling difference in these stories; namely, Lazarus is the only one who is dead and buried.

There is a long tradition of people being raised from the dead in the Scriptures. There are three such instances in the Hebrew Scriptures, three different individuals in the Gospels, and two in the writings of St. Paul. There is also the citation in St. Matthew’s Gospel of people rising from their tombs as Jesus dies on the cross.

Martha and Mary both intercede for their brother Lazarus who, according to them, would not have died if Jesus had been with them. The conversation they have with Jesus elicits a strong affirmation of their faith in the Resurrection and in Jesus as God’s chosen and promised one. A faith that looks beyond the limited view of this life and toward eternity can give us a better perspective not only on death, but on all those losses and troubles that, if we are not careful, can lead us to despair.

Our faith reminds us that our lives unfold in the context of eternity, an eternity ruled by a loving and merciful God who sent his only Son for our salvation.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator