The Friends of Jesus

Homily for Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today we celebrate the memorial of saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany. In the Gospels, we hear that Jesus often visited the home of Martha, her sister Mary, and her brother Lazarus. Their friendship with the Lord has much to teach us about our friendship with him.

In today’s first reading, after the people hear the words of God, they answer: “All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do.” Of course, the challenge lies in following through on such a promise. As is made clear in the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures, these people are never quite able to follow through. Actually, the same can be said of us.

When Jesus came among us, he entered into a new sort of relationship with the people. Martha is a beautiful example of the new friendship. When her brother Lazarus dies, Martha approaches Jesus. She does not wait for the Lord to come to her. Then, she boldly challenges Jesus, telling him what she feels in that moment and not simply telling him what he wants to hear. Then, as a true friend of Jesus, Martha is willing to listen to him, to believe him, and to heed his words.

Martha is not perfect, but as a friend of Jesus, she listened to him and believed in him. She comes to him, reveals her heart to him, and then gives him room to work. After this passage in today’s Gospel text, we know that Jesus indeed raises Lazarus from the dead. When friends of the Lord listen and believe, mighty indeed are the works of God.