Homily for Feast of Saint Martha
*HOMILY FOR MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARTHA (JULY 29 2020 WEDNESSDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II)*
*KNOWING THE LORD YOUR GOD*
Jeremiah 15: 10, 16-21; Psalm 59: 2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18; John 11: 19-27 or Luke 10: 38-42
The Gospel reading is from the Memorial of Saint Martha. For those who will celebrate it as Feast, they will take all readings from the Memorial of Saint Martha.
Today, we are presented with at least two ways of knowing the Lord God. First, the first reading tells us that it is by repentance. Repentance gives us access to DIVINE PRESENCE. Second, the two Gospels tell us that it is by hospitality. Third, the two Gospels tell us that it is by listening to the WORD OF GOD. Fourth, the Gospel according to John tells us that we must believe that Jesus is the RESURRECTION AND LIFE. Fifth, the Psalm tells us to trust in the Lord in all circumstances. Sixth, Professing the Resurrection of the Dead. Seventh, Proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
In the first reading, we can see that following the Lord God can pose many challenges. Jeremiah realizes those challenges as he continues his ministry as a prophet of God. As God’s prophet, Jeremiah had been proclaiming God’s Word for a while. As he looks back at all he has endured for the sake of being God’s spokesperson, he thinks, for a short time, that it would have been better for him to have never been born. He faces strife and conflict because of his bringing the Word of God to others. Many of us today are facing such genuinely. Yet, he also realizes how much he himself has benefitted from “devouring” God’s Word. Yes, many of us can recount such today. God promises to take care of Jeremiah because he does what God has asked him to do. God tells every one of us the same today. Some people might be grateful that they are not being asked, as Jeremiah is, to be God’s spokespersons and have to confront the ruler and the people. Jeremiah suffers greatly because of his call to be a prophet. No wonder he sometimes wishes that he had never been born. He has to invest all of his time, energy, and possessions in order to do God’s work. God reassures him that he will be protected by God. The psalm also speaks of hardships for those who seek to do the will of God. The psalmist, in a similarly tough place as Jeremiah, realizes that evildoers are plotting against him. He seeks to trust the Lord, since God is the source of strength, mercy, and refuge. Trusting in God is the only thing that will enable the psalmist to continue to do God’s work. You may be the Psalmist we are talking about. I may be the Psalmist we are talking about today.
Two different Gospels are available; both dealing with St. Martha, whose feast it is today. We have a different perspective on a RELATIONSHIP OF PRESENCE with God in the accounts of Saint Martha. Martha believes she is proclaiming God’s message by her acts of service and her concern for her dead brother. The two Gospel accounts show us how Martha is challenged to look at what it means that Jesus is present with her and she must live out that presence. The account from Luke 10 gives us the picture of Martha being busy about hospitality and tending to the needs of Jesus and His companions. Martha begins to complain to Jesus about Mary’s not helping with the chores but Mary’s just sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him. Jesus commends Mary for her desire to be with the Master. JESUS TEACHES MARTHA THAT EVEN THOUGH HOSPITALITY AND SERVING OTHERS IS IMPORTANT, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO JUST BE PRESENT WITH THE MASTER AND ALLOW HIM TO BE PRESENT. It is then one can take in God’s Word and then prophetically live it out in action and words.
In the Gospel account from John 11, Martha has obviously learned to listen better to Jesus. Although she begins by expressing her anger that Jesus did not come sooner to help her brother and prevent him from dying, SHE IS ABLE TO PUT HER TRUST IN JESUS. She knows that Jesus is able to work wonders because of His relationship with God the Father. She also professes her faith in the resurrection of the dead. Lastly she boldly affirms that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, God wants to be known by people. The Lord Jesus reveals God’s love for us. He asks us to be patient and let go of our anxiousness about doing things to please God and instead, take time to sit and listen to the Lord Jesus. God desires people to be in relationship with the Trinity. Yet, like the Israelites of old, how easy it is for individuals and groups to miss the point of God’s self-revelation. It is so easy for us to make our own image of God. We think that God should reward for being a prophet of God, a spokesperson. We expect God to tell us we are doing a good job for serving others in Jesus’ name or professing our faith in Jesus who should bring us what we want, such as the healing of one of our loved ones. Yes, Jesus communicates who God is, but we cannot fully understand who God is until we take the time to be still with the Lord Jesus and His Father and the Holy Spirit. As we continue our journey through life, let us seek to remember that it is God who saves us and let us give thanks to the Lord Jesus for communicating this to us in Word and Action.
Remember, these are the ways to know the Lord your God: Repentance, Hospitality, Listening (Reading) and meditating on the WORD OF GOD, believing that Jesus is RESURRECTION AND LIFE, TRUSTING in the Lord God, Professing the Resurrection of the Dead, Proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
*MEDITATION* Am I willing to sit the Master’s feet and listen carefully to the message that Jesus want me to hear about how much He and the Abba love me and care for me, especially in trying times? Do I seek to reassure others when they are going through rough times that God is with them and will not desert them?
*PRAYER* Lord God, we pray that you continue to empower us with Your Holy Spirit so we can live the lives which give You the glory and praise You deserve. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
*KNOWING THE LORD YOUR GOD*
Jeremiah 15: 10, 16-21; Psalm 59: 2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18; John 11: 19-27 or Luke 10: 38-42
The Gospel reading is from the Memorial of Saint Martha. For those who will celebrate it as Feast, they will take all readings from the Memorial of Saint Martha.
Today, we are presented with at least two ways of knowing the Lord God. First, the first reading tells us that it is by repentance. Repentance gives us access to DIVINE PRESENCE. Second, the two Gospels tell us that it is by hospitality. Third, the two Gospels tell us that it is by listening to the WORD OF GOD. Fourth, the Gospel according to John tells us that we must believe that Jesus is the RESURRECTION AND LIFE. Fifth, the Psalm tells us to trust in the Lord in all circumstances. Sixth, Professing the Resurrection of the Dead. Seventh, Proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
In the first reading, we can see that following the Lord God can pose many challenges. Jeremiah realizes those challenges as he continues his ministry as a prophet of God. As God’s prophet, Jeremiah had been proclaiming God’s Word for a while. As he looks back at all he has endured for the sake of being God’s spokesperson, he thinks, for a short time, that it would have been better for him to have never been born. He faces strife and conflict because of his bringing the Word of God to others. Many of us today are facing such genuinely. Yet, he also realizes how much he himself has benefitted from “devouring” God’s Word. Yes, many of us can recount such today. God promises to take care of Jeremiah because he does what God has asked him to do. God tells every one of us the same today. Some people might be grateful that they are not being asked, as Jeremiah is, to be God’s spokespersons and have to confront the ruler and the people. Jeremiah suffers greatly because of his call to be a prophet. No wonder he sometimes wishes that he had never been born. He has to invest all of his time, energy, and possessions in order to do God’s work. God reassures him that he will be protected by God. The psalm also speaks of hardships for those who seek to do the will of God. The psalmist, in a similarly tough place as Jeremiah, realizes that evildoers are plotting against him. He seeks to trust the Lord, since God is the source of strength, mercy, and refuge. Trusting in God is the only thing that will enable the psalmist to continue to do God’s work. You may be the Psalmist we are talking about. I may be the Psalmist we are talking about today.
Two different Gospels are available; both dealing with St. Martha, whose feast it is today. We have a different perspective on a RELATIONSHIP OF PRESENCE with God in the accounts of Saint Martha. Martha believes she is proclaiming God’s message by her acts of service and her concern for her dead brother. The two Gospel accounts show us how Martha is challenged to look at what it means that Jesus is present with her and she must live out that presence. The account from Luke 10 gives us the picture of Martha being busy about hospitality and tending to the needs of Jesus and His companions. Martha begins to complain to Jesus about Mary’s not helping with the chores but Mary’s just sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him. Jesus commends Mary for her desire to be with the Master. JESUS TEACHES MARTHA THAT EVEN THOUGH HOSPITALITY AND SERVING OTHERS IS IMPORTANT, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO JUST BE PRESENT WITH THE MASTER AND ALLOW HIM TO BE PRESENT. It is then one can take in God’s Word and then prophetically live it out in action and words.
In the Gospel account from John 11, Martha has obviously learned to listen better to Jesus. Although she begins by expressing her anger that Jesus did not come sooner to help her brother and prevent him from dying, SHE IS ABLE TO PUT HER TRUST IN JESUS. She knows that Jesus is able to work wonders because of His relationship with God the Father. She also professes her faith in the resurrection of the dead. Lastly she boldly affirms that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, God wants to be known by people. The Lord Jesus reveals God’s love for us. He asks us to be patient and let go of our anxiousness about doing things to please God and instead, take time to sit and listen to the Lord Jesus. God desires people to be in relationship with the Trinity. Yet, like the Israelites of old, how easy it is for individuals and groups to miss the point of God’s self-revelation. It is so easy for us to make our own image of God. We think that God should reward for being a prophet of God, a spokesperson. We expect God to tell us we are doing a good job for serving others in Jesus’ name or professing our faith in Jesus who should bring us what we want, such as the healing of one of our loved ones. Yes, Jesus communicates who God is, but we cannot fully understand who God is until we take the time to be still with the Lord Jesus and His Father and the Holy Spirit. As we continue our journey through life, let us seek to remember that it is God who saves us and let us give thanks to the Lord Jesus for communicating this to us in Word and Action.
Remember, these are the ways to know the Lord your God: Repentance, Hospitality, Listening (Reading) and meditating on the WORD OF GOD, believing that Jesus is RESURRECTION AND LIFE, TRUSTING in the Lord God, Professing the Resurrection of the Dead, Proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
*MEDITATION* Am I willing to sit the Master’s feet and listen carefully to the message that Jesus want me to hear about how much He and the Abba love me and care for me, especially in trying times? Do I seek to reassure others when they are going through rough times that God is with them and will not desert them?
*PRAYER* Lord God, we pray that you continue to empower us with Your Holy Spirit so we can live the lives which give You the glory and praise You deserve. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
Comments
Post a Comment