We Are All Martha, and We Are All Mary

Rachel Bulman ponders the story of the raising of Lazarus, and two sisters' different approaches to Jesus.

Mary and Martha are always presented as opposites of one another. The posited question is always, “Are you more a Martha or are you more a Mary?” That question is hardly ever presented with this Gospel in mind, but I think it should be.

How many times have we echoed Martha’s accusation to Jesus? “Lord, if you had been here, …” [insert whatever calamity or tragedy that has fallen upon us].

We often give into the lie that loss or suffering must mean that God is absent.

A few lines later, Mary comes to Jesus in the same spot where he met Martha, and she falls at his feet. She echoes the same accusation that Martha had uttered: “If you had been here.” In other words, “Where were you? You are too late.”

The only difference between Mary and Martha here is their emotional life. Though their first words to Jesus were the same, their reactions were quite different. There is no referral to Martha’s emotion or affectivity. She continues to stay on brand as the hasty and active sister, rushing to Mary and, possibly, realizing that Mary could reach the heart of Jesus in a way that she could not.

Conversely, after Mary’s interaction with Jesus, she wept. These tears of sorrow and disbelief in the ability of the Son to resurrect that which had died were the very same tears that were shed in worship, that were used to wash the feet of the Savior of mankind.

And Christ was moved to weep. His tears were not just over the death of His friend or even the tears of Mary. Perhaps, this was a foreshadowing of the cross. The ones who worshipped Him would come to disbelieve Him, and death would attempt to have the final say. But His tears are drops of love and as they shed, the Jews made note of how much He must have loved Lazarus.

Still, they missed how much He also loved them. Each and every action that Jesus committed on earth is never an isolated event. The miracles, the Resurrection, the teachings are never for one hearer or one bearer or one person. Each one is meant to serve the salvation of the many.

We often give into the lie that loss or suffering must mean that God is absent. #catholicmom

I think the same rules apply here. We are all Marthas who are restricted to the confines of earthly existence, never believing father than our eyes can see. And, we are all Marys, falling at the feet of Jesus when we cannot fathom the loss we might face today.

Our moments of disbelief and even our tears have served for the awakening of many hearts. Many come to know and believe by the gift of your life. You can be Martha or be Mary, but we are all ultimately Lazarus emerging from the pit, under the voice of Jesus asking for us to be set free.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to trust in your providence. Through tears and in haste, may I still find the moment to be at your feet and may your give life to that which I have counted as loss. May I have the wisdom to see the failings and sufferings as a way to draw closer to your heart.

Resurrection of Lazarus (stained glass)