Homily for the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

The Gospel reading for today may evoke some empathy for Martha. She is diligently preparing a meal for Jesus and His guests. Still, when she expresses frustration that her sister Mary isn't assisting her, Jesus replies that Mary has chosen the better part, one that will not be taken away from her. This response might seem unfair to Martha at first.

Other biblical narratives demonstrate that Jesus values hard work in serving others. For instance, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, He tells of the Samaritan who showed mercy and compassion as he attended to the wounded man. The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us, "There is a time for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven," highlighting that there are moments for action and moments for rest.

During Jesus' visit to Mary and Martha, He emphasized the importance of stepping back from their tasks to listen to His words. Mary understood that during this particular visit, Jesus valued the act of listening more than the busyness of preparing and serving food. She was more in tune with what the Lord desired than Martha was. While the Lord encourages us to work for Him, He also wants us to take the time to hear Him. True wisdom involves knowing when to be active in serving the Lord and when to pause, listen to His voice, and reflect on His words.