Saint Martha, Pray for Us!
July 29, 2009

There's Something Greater than Housework Here!

In the spirit of Martha's sister, Mary,
I spent some time today reading the
three Scripture passages where
Martha is mentioned as Our Lord
continued in His public ministry.

Luke 10:38-42
John 11: 1-45
John 12:1-11

Where Scripture leaves off,
there is a faith tradition that around 48 AD,
after Our Lord's Resurrection and Ascension,
Martha, Mary Magdalen, her sister,
and Lazarus settled in southern France.
Legend has it that Martha was known
to have the strength and courage in faith
to even slay dragons, if necessary.

I can only imagine that strength
of character and tenacity all the more,
as I read through these passages
with a renewed appreciation for Martha,
who was a close friend of Our Lord.
She knew who He was, and
proclaimed and relied upon it,
even after her brother, Lazarus,
had been dead for three days.

Her testimony in proclaiming her belief that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God,
and that anything He asks of the Father
will be given to Him,
parallels the very witness we have of Saint Peter,
which ended up being a real name-changer for him...
Kepha, the Rock!

So many have expressed the importance
of having a little of both sisters,
as we attempt each day to fulfill
our vocations in the Lord.
Archbishop Sheen highlights this in his writings
that sanctity is "a fixation on goodness by
abandonment to God's Holy Will".

He writes:
"In what does life consist except two things:
(1) active duty; and
(2) passive circumstances.
The first is under your control; these do in God's name.
The second is outside your control; these submit to God's name".
He explains, "Hence, mopping an office for the love of God
is bigger than running the office for the love of money...
most of our misery and unhappiness come from rebellion
against our present state coupled with false ambition".

Martha's pruning by Our Lord leaves me with
fruit for thought in my daily examen as the heart of our home.
Each morning,
there are tasks to be accomplished and
charity to be expressed.

I go forth, mopping and glowing in the will of the Lord...

Blessings,
Sharon