St. Martha, Sister Of Mary And Lazarus

St. Martha, patron of cooks

Saint Martha has always been identified as the sister who was so worried with domestic duties that it distracted her from listening to Jesus. Yet, as we can see in Scripture, Jesus loved her so much that He consoled her in her anxiety. He told her to set aside her worries and choose only one thing - to be more present to Him. To this, she listened and wholeheartedly absorbed these Words in her heart.

With the Words of the Lord in her heart, she became a model of courage when at Lazarus' death she instinctively ran to the Lord (while this time Mary stayed home) and said, "Lord,"if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Then we see her total trust and faith in Jesus when our Lord asked her if she believed that He is the Ressurection and the Life, "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." (John 11:21 21-27 )

Dorothy Day once said: "If everyone were holy and handsome, it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. But was not Christ's way for himself. Ask honestly what you would do when a beggar asked at your house for food. Would you give it on an old cracked plate, thinking that was good enough? Do you think that Martha and Mary thought that the old and chipped dish was good enough for their guest? It is not a duty to help Christ -- it is a privilege."

Like Martha, may we be single-minded on the Lord, listen to him attentively, putting our trust in Him so we can serve Him wholeheartedly.

Collect:
Father,
your Son honored St. Martha
by coming to her home as a guest.
By her prayers
may we serve Christ in our brothers and sisters
and be welcomed by you into heaven, our true home.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.