St. Martha, disciple of the Lord 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

Woe is me, Mother, why did you bring me to the light?

A man of dissension throughout the land! I owe them nothing, neither do they owe me, yet they all curse me!  I devoured your words when they came. They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when you made your Name rest on me.

Never did I associate with worldly people,  amusing myself with scoffers! When your hand was upon me I stood apart and you filled me with your anger. Why is there no end to my sorrow or healing for my wound?

Why do you deceive me, and why does my spring suddenly dry up?  Then Yahweh spoke to me, “If you return I will take you back and you will serve me again. Draw the gold from the dross and you will be as my own mouth. You must draw them to you and not go over to them.

I will make you a fortress and a wall of bronze facing them; if they fight against you they will not overcome you;  I am with you to free you and save you. I will redeem you from the wicked and free you from the hands of tyrants.”

 

Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18

God is my refuge on they day of distress.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 11:19-27 (or Luke 10:38-42)

Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to offer consolation at their brother’s death.  When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

But I know that what­ever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.” But Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection; whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live. 

Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  Martha then answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

When we experience losing a loved one, especially the most significant other in our life, we cannot be consoled by any sympathy. In fact, we purposely refuse to be consoled or allow others to share our sorrow.

We can be thankful to all those who come and express their share of grief; but, it cannot really be shared. We want to exculusively own the loss- we wish all these wakes, rituals, and people gone. If there is anything that can really appease us, it is bringing back to life our dead loved one.

Nothing else. Others will be scared, I am not. This is the one thing Jesus gives to the grieving Martha-and she cannot ask for more. It would not matter to her if Lazarus was not brought back to life. Jesus compensates all our losses. Having Him is like raising to life the loved ones we lost.