Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Tuesday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
First reading 1 John 4:7-16
On this feast of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, we are invited to contemplate the beauty of friendship grounded in divine love, a relationship that springs not from convenience or obligation, but from a shared life in God. Their home at Bethany was a place where Jesus found rest, comfort, and affection, a place where He was received not merely as a teacher or miracle-worker, but as a true friend. In Martha’s service, Mary’s listening heart, and Lazarus’s quiet companionship, we see different expressions of love that, together, form a complete and welcoming space for Christ. Saint John, in today’s reading, reminds us that “God is love, and whoever lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them.” This truth is beautifully embodied in the family of Bethany: their love for one another and their love for Jesus were inseparable, flowing from the same divine source. Their friendship shows us that holiness is often lived in the ordinary rhythms of daily life, in meals shared, conversations held, tears shed, and joys celebrated. It is in these simple moments, rooted in love, that God’s presence becomes tangible and transformative. Your love towards the other also becomes the space to Christ. And friendship in Christ is never closed in on itself; it radiates outward, becoming a real space for true relationship among us. Like Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, may we cultivate relationships that are not only nurturing and faithful but also deeply anchored in God, so that our friendships become places where Jesus is welcomed, known, and encountered anew. Let’s reflect: Are my relationships rooted in God’s love in such a way that they not only nurture mutual affection but also create a space where Christ is truly welcomed and encountered?
Don Giorgio