In today’s First Reading, the Israelites make a bold promise: “When Moses came to the people
and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, ‘We will do everything that the LORD has told us.’”
Anyone who has read the Old Testament knows this was no small task to undertake. The Israelites were promising to keep more than Ten Commandments, a lot more. Google tells me that there are 613 separate laws given in the Old Testament. And yet, after hearing the laws once more, they reaffirmed their commitment saying, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.”
We all know that they did not keep their promise, not even close. Given fallen human nature, perhaps it was a rash promise to make, although no doubt their intentions were good. Over the centuries, the Israelites failed to abide by their covenant with the Lord in spectacular ways. But while God punished them harshly for these transgressions, he never took away their status as the Chosen People. He always provided hope and opportunities for redemption.
Many centuries pass between the events of the First Reading and the time of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. These faithful Jews were devoted followers of Jesus. They were His friends and He loved them. He seems to have visited them several times and felt comfortable with them. Theirs was the last home in which he spent time before His Passion.
We have two choices for the Gospel reading today and I find the contrast of Martha’s portrayal in each very interesting. On the one hand we have the familiar complainer who is overworked and tired and resentful of Mary’s choice to sit at the feet of the Lord. On the other we have the faith-filled woman who boldly declares her belief that Jesus is the Messiah and that he can yet save her brother. Both versions show a woman of action. Martha comes to find Jesus while Mary stays at home, perhaps praying or pondering on what she has learned from listening to Jesus.
I like to think that Martha and Mary are modeling different spiritualities, both equally valid: Mary is contemplative, Martha is active, but both are faithful. Both believe in Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s covenant. And just as God punished the faithless Israelites of the Old Testament, He rewards the faithful Mary and Martha with the miraculous resurrection of their brother.
Today let us strive to have the faith of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, while also being grateful that God keeps His promises even when we do not.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High; Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”
En la Primera Lectura de hoy, los israelitas hacen una promesa audaz: “Moisés bajó del monte Sinaí y refirió al pueblo todo lo que el Señor le había dicho y los mandamientos que le había dado. Y el pueblo contestó a una voz: ‘Haremos todo lo que dice el Señor’”.
Cualquiera que haya leído el Antiguo Testamento sabe que no era una tarea fácil. Los israelitas prometían guardar más que los Diez Mandamientos, mucho más. Google me dice que hay 613 leyes separadas dadas en el Antiguo Testamento. Y sin embargo, después de escuchar las leyes una vez más, reafirmaron su compromiso diciendo: “Obedeceremos; haremos todo lo que manda el Señor”.
Todos sabemos que no cumplieron su promesa, ni siquiera llegaron cerca. Dada la naturaleza humana caída, tal vez fue una promesa precipitada, aunque sin duda sus intenciones eran buenas. A lo largo de los siglos, los israelitas no cumplieron su convenio con el Señor de manera espectacular. Pero aunque Dios los castigó duramente por estas transgresiones, nunca les quitó su condición de Pueblo Elegido. Siempre brindó esperanza y oportunidades para la redención.
Pasan muchos siglos entre los acontecimientos de la Primera Lectura y la época de Marta, María y Lázaro. Estos judíos fieles eran seguidores devotos de Jesús. Eran Sus amigos y los amaba. Parece haberlos visitado varias veces y se sintió cómodo con ellos. La suya fue la última casa en la que pasó un tiempo antes de Su Pasión.
Tenemos dos opciones para la lectura del Evangelio de hoy y encuentro muy interesante el contraste de la representación de Marta en cada una. Por un lado, tenemos a la familiar quejosa que está sobrecargada de trabajo, cansada y resentida por la decisión de María de sentarse a los pies del Señor. Por el otro, tenemos a la mujer llena de fe que declara audazmente su creencia de que Jesús es el Mesías y que aún puede salvar a su hermano. Ambas versiones muestran a una mujer de acción. Marta viene a buscar a Jesús mientras María se queda en casa, tal vez orando o reflexionando sobre lo que ha aprendido al escuchar a Jesús.
Me gusta pensar que Marta y María nos dan un modelo de espiritualidades diferentes, ambas igualmente válidas: María es contemplativa, Marta es activa, pero ambas son fieles. Ambas creen en Jesús como el cumplimiento de la alianza de Dios. Y así como Dios castigó a los israelitas infieles del Antiguo Testamento, recompensa a las fieles María y Marta con la milagrosa resurrección de su hermano. Esforcémonos hoy por tener la fe de María, Marta y Lázaro, al mismo tiempo que agradecemos que Dios cumpla Sus promesas incluso cuando nosotros no lo hacemos.
“Mejor ofrece a Dios tu gratitud y cumple tus promesas al Altísimo pues yo te libraré cuando me invoques y tú me darás gloria, agradecido.”
Leslie Sholly is a Catholic, Southern wife and mother of five, living in her hometown, Knoxville, Tennessee. She graduated from Georgetown University with an English major and Theology minor. She blogs at Life in Every Limb, where for 11 years she has covered all kinds of topics, more recently focusing on the intersection of faith, politics, and social justice.
Feature Image Credit: dimitrisvetsikas1969, pixabay.com/photos/the-raising-of-lazarus-iconography-2069644/
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and seven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is 
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