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July 29 - St. Martha

Fr. Michael MachacekNativity of Our LordJuly 29, 2021
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today's readings are Exodus 40; Psalm 84; John 11: 17-27 or Lk. 10: 38-42

St. Martha may be one of the most underrated women of the New Testament.  For today's masses the presider has the choice of 2 gospels that feature Martha, and both involve conversations between Martha and Jesus.  Martha's sister Mary is also in both gospels, but in neither case does she have a speaking part.  In the first, she stays at home, and in the second, she takes the preferred role of simply being with Jesus.

An item to note in both gospels is the boldness of Martha to be willing to speak to Jesus.  In both cases, she does something outside the cultural norm, a woman initiating a conversation with a man who is not her relative.  Besiddes doing that, in both cases she displays a willingness to speak her mind to Jesus.  In Luke's story, she asks Jesus to tell her sister to give her a hand.  In John's story, her initial statement to Jesus is half disappointment, half reprimand for the fact Jesus purposefully showed up too late to save her brother.  Of course, the conversation then turns into a profound declaration from Jesus and an equally profound statement of faith from Martha.

Maybe we can take a bit of time today to consider our own relationship with Jesus in light of Martha's with Jesus.  Do we feel confident enough to express our feelings to Him, even if they are feelings of disappointment and frustration, like Martha did?