Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus of Bethany

This weekend (Saturday) we celebrate the feast day of one of our patrons, St. Martha of Bethany. In recent years, this feast day for St. Martha has been expanded to include all three siblings in her household at Bethany. Of course, we know that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and Mary was the one who sat at Jesus feet - both to listen to his words and to anoint them in anticipation of Jesus’ own death.

Our archbishop, Cardinal Seán, chose to name the chapel in the Pastoral Center for our archdiocese as Bethany Chapel. Over the altar there is a Latin phrase referring to what our patron St. Martha said to her sister Mary when Jesus came to console them after the death of their brother, Lazarus: Magister adest et voacat te - “The teacher has come and is calling for you.” Here Martha is encouraging her sister to trust in her relationship with Jesus, and in turn helping to strengthen each of our personal relationship with Jesus. Theirs was a home where Jesus was welcomed, both as Messiah and as friend, and they had a special relationship with him. Not only did Jesus come there with his disciples to relax, but he felt compelled to return at the sisters’ request, in spite of it becoming dangerous for him to be in Judea - especially that close to Jerusalem. In naming the Bethany Chapel after their hometown, I think Cardinal Seán was trying to call us all to make our home with Jesus - especially in Word and Sacrament at the Mass - and with his close disciples as we help each other along the journey of faith.

There is something special about St. Martha Parish in general and the church in particular. People - even first-time visitors - frequently comment on what a warmth they feel while praying at St. Martha. It is a warm and bright environment in our cozy, almost home-like church. People also feel the welcoming nature of the community from parishioners who greet each other and show they have developed friendships in the parish family.

In closing, I want to remind you that the Daughters of St. Paul are with us with their display of items from the Pauline Books and Media store in Dedham over these next two weekends. I know that they are excited that they could be at St. Martha Parish on this weekend for our parish feast day! They will come back again to be at St. Mary Parish next weekend. May this opportunity to celebrate and learn about our faith help us continue to practice our values of welcoming & love, growing in faith and our relationship with God who comes to relate with us in his son, Jesus Christ.