Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Readings: Ex 24:3-8; Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15; Jn 11:19-27 or Lk 10:38-42
Notes: For all religion has to offer, without faith it is a vestment over a skeleton.
Our first reading today is the Ratification of the Covenant.
What comes next is the building of the Ark, the Table (Showbread), sacred objects (Menorah), Altar of Burnt Offerings, the Meeting Tent, Oils/Incense, Vestments, Liturgy for consecrating, liturgy for sacrifices, Altar of Incense, the Basin, and the selection of Artisans to perform the work.
Then the Golden Calf.
It is so out of the blue, isn’t it? All this work and effort to worship and honor and establish a lasting covenant and then a false god.
- Moses is missing.
- Lazarus has died.
In the most gentle way Mary and Martha brings us back to the basics of relationships and especially relationship with the Lord. Those who built the Golden Calf had the same fear when Moses had not returned.
Martha and Mary: They both had the same question: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
The People too: for that man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.
Relation before Work, Relation above work, Relation is the setting of all Work
The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Eternal Life is More Than Bodily Life
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
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.
Change is hard. Worship (in vain) with all its holy accouterments, without faith, brings nothing.
- Have faith in the One who rescued the Hebrews.
- Have faith in the One who is the Resurrection.
Even if he is ‘late’.
Even if he ‘dies’.
First Reading
We will do everything that the LORD has told us.
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”
Responsorial
Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
Gospel Acclamation
I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Gospel
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry