Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany - July 29
(From Festivals and Commemorations by Philip H. Phatteicher)
2 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
The little family of Bethany were Jesus’ friends who shared their home with him, and it was at their house that he found refreshment, especially before the passion. Their names, on various dates, appear on lists of martyrs from the 7th and 8th centuries.
Mary is portrayed in Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:1-12:8. She appears to be a contemplative person with single-minded absorption in the kingdom of God. In John’s account, at dinner six days before the passion, Mary anointed Jesus, perhaps as a sign of his royal dignity which he took to be a consecration of himself for his approaching sacrifice.
Martha (the name means “lady” or “mistress”) has come rather unfairly to represent the unremembered activist. She was of a practical bent, to be sure, but she enjoyed the friendship and esteem of Jesus nonetheless, and it was she who made the confession of faith when Jesus came to raise Lazarus, “If you had been here my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will grant you” (John 11:21-22).
Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus, is in the fourth gospel a sign of the eternal life possessed by those who believe. His high character is evidenced by the love Mary, Martha, and Jesus all had for him. Together, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus demonstrated their love for Jesus by opening their home and the pure adoration that Mary bestowed with the anointing. May their witness inspire us as we offer our worship and praise, giving thanks for all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ.
Let us pray…Lord God, you have surrounded us with so great a cloud of witnesses. Grant that we, encouraged by the examples of your servants Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, may persevere in the course that is set before us, to be living signs of the Gospel and at last, with all the saints to share in your eternal joy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.