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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

July 29th: Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
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Gospel text (Lk 10:38-42): Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 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.”

St. Martha

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, in the celebration of St. Martha, the Gospel presents to us the episode of Jesus’ visit to Bethany, to the house of Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus. Martha was busy with her many chores, while Mary was quietly sitting at the Master's feet and listening to Him. To Martha, who was complaining because her sister did not help her, Jesus replied: "Mary has chosen the best part".

This episode reminds us of the primacy of the spiritual life, the need to feed ourselves with the Word of God to give flavor to our daily occupations. It is a timely invitation for this summer: rest can help us to recover the balance between activism and contemplation, between haste and our natural rhythms, between the many sounds and the silence that promotes peace.

—Jesus, when Lazarus lay in the tomb, St. Martha rushed to welcome you in the outskirts of Bethany to ask you for the "impossible": and You made it a reality!