THE EXAMPLE OF ST. MARTHA
Today’s
commemoration somehow caps a series of memorials this month,
commemorations or feasts of several other saints. The common denominator
among them is that they all knew, or encountered in the flesh, the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself in His lifetime. They were His disciples,
contemporaries or relatives: St. Thomas, St. Mary Magdalene, St. James,
Sts. Joachim and Anne, and finally today, St. Martha.
A song by the Filipino Catholic music ministry group, Bukas Palad,
extols her: “You, who welcomed Christ into your home, You who must have
washed the Savior’s feet, are truly blest....” If only for these deeds
of service, which St. Martha performed especially for the Lord Jesus,
she deserves our praise, emulation and imitation. Sometimes relegated to
second fiddle vis-à-vis her siblings Mary and Lazarus, Martha does have
merits of her own. She lived her being the Lord’s disciple through her
gracious hospitality and humble service.
And, of course, there is the beautiful lesson in the Gospel episode
today. Even with the untimely death of her brother, Lazarus, Martha
showed that tragedy can be turned into an occasion to strengthen faith
in Jesus. We join our voices with hers, as we too declare our oath of
faithful and faith-filled allegiance and conviction, “Yes, Lord. I have
come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is
to come into the world.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: What is your uniqueness that you can use in serving God?
Lord,
You have created each of us differently, unique from one another. Help
me to use my uniqueness in serving You and in fulfilling my life’s
mission.
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