Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

For the first time, Mary and Lazarus are added with their sister Martha as we celebrate their feast-day today. So far, this day has been dedicated to Martha, but Pope Francis this year decided to add her brother and sister in their combined feast-day. They were the closest friends of Jesus, and we see Him visiting them often to relax with them, as friends do often when they are close to each other. This is a very human aspect of Jesus which we often tend to overlook. He had friends with whom He was close to, enough to stop by occasionally, to chat, to take his sandals off, to put his feet up, after the sisters washed them as was the custom then. Then they would talk and catch up on recent news about his parents, some relatives and other friends they knew. Then Martha would start cooking some soup, bake some fish, concoct some beef stew, prepare some snacks and set the table for them to eat. Of course we all know that Mary preferred to sit and listen to Jesus talk, while Martha would complain that her sister was not there to help her. Lazarus doesn’t say much, but I am sure he tried to keep the peace at the house run by two women. Then when he died, we all know the story of his resurrection, after Jesus was asked to come and help them. So we honor them today and learn from them that siblings can also be best friends as long as they get along together, and collaborate in household chores, as their lives felt enriched be the presence of Jesus in their home. And He is also in our homes, if we make His presence felt around us. He is with us always, as the unseen Guest at every meal we share, and the silent Listener to every conversation we are involved in.