Homily for the Memorial of
Sts. Martha, Mary, &
Lazarus
July 29, 2021
Luke 10: 38-42
St. Joseph’s Home, N.R.
“Mary has chosen the better part” (Luke 10: 42).
Luke tells us that Martha was “burdened with much serving” (10:40). Perhaps she was the older of the sisters; perhaps Mary was still quite young and, like many a teen, not eager to do chores—altho we mustn’t judge 1st-century Palestine by our own customs. Anyhow, Martha has taken on the tasks of hospitality in her own home. We don’t know whether she was married, whether Mary lived with her, whether Lazarus lived in the same house or had his own home and family; we don’t have any biographical information about the family, in spite of pious, post-biblical traditions about all 3 of them.
Luke tells us that Mary sat at Jesus’ feet
listening to him (10:39). The apostles,
Lazarus, and other disciples must also have gathered there, soaking in Jesus’
words and perhaps discussing his teaching and asking questions, as The
Chosen vividly portrays them around a campfire or a dinner table. What could be better than to be in such
company, particularly Jesus’ company, hearing him speak the words of life? In today’s office of Readings, one of St.
Augustine’s sermons tells us that in heaven we’ll do just what Mary did, not
any of Martha’s hustle, bustle, and fretting.[1]
Brothers, at one time you were all about hustle,
bustle, and fretting—active apostles like Martha, serving the Lord energetically
and generously in a classroom, on a ballfield, on field trips, etc. Now, even before reaching heaven, you have
the opportunity to imitate Mary and listen to the Lord in prayer: to intercede for your brothers who are still
active apostles, to intercede for the innumerable needs of humanity, or just to
adore our Creator and praise our Savior.
Maybe not by choice, “the better part” of serving the Lord is yours.
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