Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Wednesday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: John 11:19-27The home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus was a place of genuine friendship with Jesus. Yet even this beloved family experienced grief, loss, and unanswered questions. When Jesus arrived after Lazarus had died, Martha did not understand His delay, but she chose to trust Him. Her beautiful profession of faith, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world”, shows us that true friendship with Jesus is built not merely on pleasant moments but on confident faith in who He is. Jesus does not simply give resurrection; He declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Friendship with Him means entrusting our fears, disappointments, hopes, and even our experience of death into His hands, believing that His love is stronger than every darkness. Saint Martha served Him, Saint Mary of Bethany listened to Him, and Saint Lazarus of Bethany experienced His life-giving power. Together they remind us that every authentic friendship with Christ leads us to deeper faith and unwavering trust in Him. The closer we become to Jesus, the more confidently we can proclaim with Martha that He is indeed the Son of God, our resurrection and our life, whatever circumstances we may face. Let’s reflect: Do I trust Jesus as my closest friend and confidently believe that He is the Son of God, the Resurrection and the Life, especially when I do not understand His ways?
Don Giorgio