Sts. Martha, Mary, & Lazarus Memorial
Martha and Mary were sisters, related not only by blood but also by religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord, and both served him harmoniously when he was among them. Martha welcomed him as travelers are welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant received her Lord, the creature her Creator, to serve him bodily food while she was to be fed by the Spirit.
No one of you should say, “Blessed are they who have deserved to receive Christ into their homes!” Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says, “Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me.” – from a sermon by Saint Augustine
Some people in Jerusalem wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was dead. He said that He would bring him back to life. This miracle would help the disciples know that He was the Savior.
The raising of Lazarus is the last of the miracles or ‘signs’ of Jesus’ divinity which John relates. It is clearly offered to us as the summation of Jesus’ divinity, representing his ability to conquer death itself, through bringing the dead back to life.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen