We hear the term “sibling rivalry” in our culture referring to siblings competing with one another. My three children jokingly ask me which one of them is my favorite. I reply that my daughter is my favorite daughter, my oldest son is my favorite oldest son, and my youngest son is my favorite youngest son. I respond in a way that makes it impossible for any of my children to be anything other than my beloved child. I tell my kids that I want sibling revelry not rivalry in my house.
Today we celebrate the feast of sibling saints Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Some spiritual writings about them, especially ones about Mary and Martha, create a “rivalry” between the sisters or lift up only the traits that we may find most appealing about the sisters while downplaying others. But both are prayerful.
Let’s revel in the united prayerfulness of Mary and Martha and marvel at how they interceded with Jesus out of profound love for their brother, Lazarus. The sibling revelry in their story is beautiful. Today’s Gospel passage begins with Jesus arriving at Bethany after the death of Lazarus. While Mary stays in the house, Martha goes out to meet Jesus and tells him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (Jn 11:22). This is a prayer of honesty and faith.
Jesus engages with Martha exactly where she is. He doesn’t try to change her or dissuade her prayer. Instead, Jesus offers Martha a promise, “Your brother will rise again” (11:23). Martha responds with an expression of her faith in the resurrection, and as the conversation proceeds, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Martha’s answer reveals tremendous faith in Jesus and is one of the earliest recorded creeds. She professes, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”
In the verses after today’s reading from John, Mary leaves the house and goes to Jesus. Falling at his feet, she prays the same prayer as her sister, “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died” (11:32). Can you see how much each sister loved their brother and how much they believed in, and loved, Jesus? Surely these sisters had different personalities, gifts, and demeanors. But there is revelry here, not rivalry. Mary and Martha were united in their belief in Jesus and their love for their brother. These are unifying aspects in a family and ones to celebrate.
Daily Reading
Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Ez 2:8—3:4 The Lord GOD said to me:As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you:be not rebellious like this house of rebellion,but open…
Saint of the Day
Pope Saint Pontian
Pope Saint Pontian, who reigned from 230-235, holds the distinction of being the first pontiff to abdicate.
The post Pope Saint Pontian appeared first on uCatholic.