Hôm nay Giáo Hội mừng lễ kính nhớ các Thánh Martha, Maria and Lazarus. Năm 2021, Đức Thánh Cha Phanxicô đã thay thế Lễ Thánh Martha bằng lễ kính nhớ này để tôn vinh cả ba chị em: Martha, Mary và Lazarus. Khi bình luận về lý do của lễ kính nhớ mới này, Bộ Phụng tự đã phát biểu: “Martha đã rộng lượng tiếp đón Chúa, Mary chăm chú lắng nghe lời Người, và Lazarus nhanh chóng ra khỏi mộ theo lệnh của Đấng đã làm nhục sự chết.” Hơn nữa, ba chị em này đã làm chứng cho tất cả chúng ta về Tin Mừng. Họ là tấm gương cho chúng ta về cách trở thành Kitô hữu trong sự bất toàn của mình. Họ đã làm điều này bằng cách chào đón Chúa Giêsu vào nhà, bằng cách chăm chú lắng nghe Người, và bằng cách tin rằng Người là Sự Phục Sinh và Sự Sống.
Nhìn vào Giáo hội, chúng ta sẽ có thể thấy mọi thứ hầu như vẫn chưa được hoàn hảo. Có lẽ chúng ta đang phải đấu tranh trong gia đình. Có lẽ chuáng ta đang vật lộn với một vấn đề tình cảm. Có lẽ có một tội lỗi nào đó mà chúng ta dường như không thể vượt qua. Có lẽ chúng ta đang vật lộn với một căn bệnh thể xác và tự hỏi tại sao Chúa lại để điều đó xảy ra. Nếu chúng ta đồng cảm với bất kỳ điều nào trong số này, hoặc bất kỳ hình thức bất toàn nào khác, thì hãy lấy cảm hứng từ gia đình Martha, Mary và Lazarô này. Hãy mời Chúa Giê-su vào ngôi nhà trong trái tim của chúng ta, mái ấm gia đình của chúng ta và mọi nơi chúng ta đến. Ngài sẽ đến, nhẹ nhàng sửa dạy chúng ta khi cần, và ban cho chúng ta món quà sự sống mới, nâng chúng ta lên để tránhg khỏi tội lỗi và những yếu đuối của mình.
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, July 29
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.” John 11:19–22
Today’s memorial is relatively new within our Church. In the year 2021, Pope Francis replaced the Memorial of Saint Martha with this memorial in honor of all three siblings: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In commenting on the reason for this new memorial, the Congregation for Divine Worship stated: “Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words, and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death.” Furthermore, these three siblings gave an evangelical witness to us all. They model for us how to be Christians within our imperfections. They did this by welcoming Jesus into their home, by listening to Him attentively, and by believing that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
These three siblings each had their own unique personality and loved Jesus in their own way. Though not much is said about Lazarus’ personal interactions with Jesus, we do have some helpful insights into both Martha and Mary. In one Gospel story, Martha complained to Jesus that her sister left her to do all the cooking. Jesus gently corrected her. Mary, on the other hand, gave a witness of deep prayer and love of Jesus by sitting at His feet listening to Him. However, in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, there is a reversal of roles. Martha is the one who runs out to meet Jesus and expresses her deep faith in Him. Mary, on the other hand, heard that Jesus was coming and appeared to stay at home because she was upset.
Perhaps the most helpful way to ponder these siblings is to acknowledge two things. First, they are now saints in Heaven enjoying eternal beatitude and glory. Second, on earth they were people of faith and love, but they were also very clearly imperfect. Therefore, the witness they give to us should be twofold. We hope to share in the glory in which they now share, and we trust this will happen if we also befriend our Lord and welcome Him into our homes, imperfect though we may be.
Reflect, today, upon this holy but imperfect family. The imperfections and manifest weaknesses of these three siblings should encourage us to press on in our practice of the faith when things are not perfect in our lives either. There are many reasons why we might get discouraged or feel like doubting or giving up at times. Perhaps things are not perfect within the Church—or at the particular church you attend. Perhaps you are struggling with loving someone in your family. Perhaps you are struggling with an emotional issue. Perhaps there is some sin you seem to be incapable of overcoming. Perhaps you struggle with a physical ailment and wonder why God permitted it to happen. If you are able to relate to any of these, or any other forms of imperfection, then take inspiration from this family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Invite Jesus into the home of your heart, your family home and everywhere you go. He will come, gently correct you when needed, and give you the gift of new life, raising you up from your sins and weaknesses.
Lord, You befriended this ordinary family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. You visited their home, received their hospitality, gently corrected them when needed and eventually raised them to the new life of eternal glory. May I also welcome You into the home of my soul, within my family and into every aspect of my life. Please come to me and raise me to the newness of the life of grace. Jesus, I trust in You
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, July 29
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. John 11:19–20
The Gospel for today’s Memorial begins with grief. Grief brings the community together and prepares us for the divine drama to unfold. As Jesus approaches the house, He is met with sorrow, yet He is ready to transform it into a house of hope and joy. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were siblings and close friends of Jesus. Jesus and His disciples visited their home on multiple occasions and received their generous hospitality. Though little is known about Lazarus’ personality, the characteristics of Martha and Mary are more clearly revealed through their interactions with our Lord.
Martha is often portrayed as active, practical, and hospitable. She speaks directly and openly, even in her grief, professing her faith in Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of God.” Her words and actions show a heart of deep faith, even when she does not yet understand the full mystery unfolding before her. Mary, on the other hand, is more contemplative and reserved. She is the one who sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words while Martha served. In this Gospel scene, she remains at home, likely immersed in silent sorrow. Yet later, when she encounters Jesus, she too will express deep faith and devotion—falling at His feet in tears.
Together, these sisters reveal different dimensions of discipleship: the active and the contemplative, the spoken and the silent, the service of love and the adoration of the heart. Each responded to Jesus in her own way, and both were deeply loved by Him. Likewise, our Lord welcomes our personalities, griefs, and strengths. Whether we are more like Martha or Mary, Jesus invites us to draw near to Him and to trust that He is “the Resurrection and the Life.”
Though little is known about Lazarus, we do know that he was greatly loved by Jesus. When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, He was deeply moved: “And Jesus wept” (John 11:35). This is the shortest verse in Scripture, yet one of the most profound. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was a prefiguration of Jesus’ own Resurrection and a powerful sign of His divine authority over death. Lazarus became a living witness to Christ’s power, and his very presence later stirred such amazement that the chief priests plotted to kill him (cf. John 12:10–11). In this way, Lazarus stands as a silent but radiant sign of hope: one who passed through the darkness of death and was called forth by the voice of the Son of God. His story reminds us that even in our tombs of suffering, despair, or sin, Jesus comes to call us forth to new life.
These siblings also reveal the humanity of Christ. He shared a friendship with them, spent time with them, listened to them, ate, received their love, and affected their lives. In these siblings we are given a glimpse of Jesus’ tender love for us—personal, relational, and deeply human. Their home was a place where Jesus found rest and companionship amid His public ministry. Their story reminds us that our Lord desires not only our worship but also our friendship. He wishes to dwell in the home of our hearts, to share in our joys and sorrows, and to walk with us through every moment of life. In their closeness to Jesus, these three saints show us that holiness is not distant or abstract, but discovered in the context of daily life, hospitality, and sincere faith.
Reflect today on the tender love Jesus had for this saintly family. See yourself and your own earthly family in them. Know that Jesus desires to dwell in your home, to relate with you personally, and to make your home a sanctuary of His abiding presence. Welcome Him in. Like Martha, serve Him with generosity. Like Mary, sit at His feet in loving adoration. And like Lazarus, allow Him to lift your spirit, restore your soul, and call you forth from whatever binds you. Jesus does all of this joyfully—moved with deep compassion, affection, and love for you.
My Lord and divine Friend, just as Your Sacred Heart was moved with compassion and holy sorrow at the death of Your friend Lazarus and at the grief of his sisters, so too is Your Heart moved with love for me—even when I fail. Strengthen me, dear Lord, by Your abiding presence in the sanctuary of my heart. May my life be a home You visit often and a place of faith, love, and friendship. Jesus, I trust in You.
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus Jul 29, 2025
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).
Wednesday 17th Ordinary Time 2026- Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
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.
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) and 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).
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