John 11:19-27

Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28

Psalm 103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42

John 11:19-27

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary

to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,

she went to meet him;

but Mary sat at home.

Martha said to Jesus,

“Lord, if you had been here,

my brother would not have died.

But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,

God will give you.”

Jesus said to her,

“Your brother will rise.”

Martha said to him,

“I know he will rise,

in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus told her,

“I am the resurrection and the life;

whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,

and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?”

She said to him, “Yes, Lord.

I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,

the one who is coming into the world.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I long for the day when I will be raised to eternal life. In the meantime, I will listen to your Word each day, conform my life to that of your Son, and serve others generously. I will pour out my life without reserve, knowing that this life is short and eternal life with you awaits.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Lazarus of Bethany: The gospels do not tell us when the friendship between Lazarus and Jesus began or how it came about. Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, lived in Bethany, a small village two miles east of Jerusalem (John 11:18). This house was likely where Jesus stayed when he came to Jerusalem on pilgrimage three times a year. Jesus spent his nights in Bethany in the days before his Passion (Mark 11:11; 14:3). The friendship between Lazarus and Jesus probably developed before the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry or even during the first year of his public ministry. The name Lazarus is derived from the Hebrew name “Eleazar,” and means “God has helped.” The Gospel of John mentions Lazarus as “loved by Jesus” (John 11:3, 5, 36) as a friend (John 11:11). None of Lazarus’ words are recorded in the gospels. He comes across as a quiet friend who was happy to be with Jesus and spend time with him. He never complained about not being one of the twelve apostles. He didn’t aspire to a position of leadership or greatness in the Kingdom. He never tried to take advantage of his friendship with Jesus. In fact, he learned that being a true friend of Jesus meant suffering persecution: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me” (Matthew 5:11). After being restored to life by Jesus, the religious authorities sought to kill Lazarus, the friend of Jesus (John 12:10). Lazarus’ greatest joy was the fact that people came to believe in Jesus because of him (John 12:11).

2. Martha of Bethany: Another friend of Jesus was not the quiet, silent type. Martha, unlike her brother, was very outspoken, direct, and didn’t mince words. When her sister wasn’t helping her around the house to serve their guests, she pointed it out to Jesus in front of everyone. When Jesus didn’t come immediately to cure her brother, she let Jesus know it: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus commanded that the tomb be opened, Martha pointed out that there would be a stench. The contrast between the quiet personality of Lazarus and the stormy one of Martha can be a consolation for us. Both personalities can enter into friendship with Jesus. Jesus relates to each in different ways. With Martha, he appreciates her boldness in her requests and even how she doesn’t care what other people think. In every encounter between Martha and Jesus, Jesus provides calm and addresses her concerns. When Martha complained about Mary, Jesus pointed out something good Mary was doing and how it is necessary to serve without becoming over-anxious and judgmental. When Martha complained about him not being there to cure her brother, Jesus invited her to have faith in his power to raise us to new life. When Martha complained about the smell from the tomb, Jesus invited her to elevate her thoughts to the glory of God above.

3. Mary of Bethany: The third friend of Jesus, Mary of Bethany, exemplifies yet another personality. Like Lazarus, she loves to listen to Jesus’ words and is totally absorbed by being in his presence. She spends an entire year’s salary on pure nard to anoint the feet of Jesus (John 12:1-8). Her passion for Jesus is tender and personal. She is contemplative and attuned to the mystery of Jesus. She is not drawn to so much to service as to presence, listening, and spiritual attentiveness. When her brother Lazarus died, she remained at home but rushed out when her sister Martha told her that Jesus was asking for her. Mary met Jesus with tears, and her emotional openness moved Jesus deeply. Her heart was sensitive to loss, but also confident in Jesus. Lazarus is the silent recipient of grace and a symbol of love and resurrection. He doesn’t exemplify an assertive personality like Martha or an emotional one like Mary. His identity is shaped by his friendship with Jesus and by being raised to life. He is a witness to Jesus’ power and love. Martha is more practical, duty-bound, assertive, and oriented to action and service. She finds calm, peace, and strength in her relationship with her Lord and confesses him as Messiah and Son of God. Mary is passionate, contemplative, emotionally expressive, and drawn more to Jesus’ person than his mission. Together, the three siblings and friends of Jesus represent complementary ways of relating to Jesus: loving him through devotion (Mary), through service (Martha), and through welcoming and being (Lazarus).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you found true friendship, generous service, love, and attentiveness in the house of your friends. I want to offer you the same in my family. I will work to welcome you into my home, where we serve each other out of love and listen attentively to your words.

Living the Word of God: How can I make my home more like that of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary? How can we be more like Lazarus and be a friend of Jesus? How can we be more like Martha and serve without complaining? How can we be more like Mary and listen to Jesus’ words?