Daily Gospel Reflection for July 29, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 11:19-27

Over the years raising kids, Saint Martha has lovingly supported me. I have often identified with her actions and words from the scene in Luke’s Gospel as she runs around serving everyone while her sister sits at the feet of Jesus (cf. Luke 38-42). I’ve felt like Martha so many times I adopted her as my motherhood patron saint. Like her, I serve and work hard for my family, and like her, sometimes my mind gets caught up on the worries of this world.

I’ve heard countless times, “Don’t be a Martha, be a Mary,” as a way to instruct busy women to keep their hearts in the right place. Instead, I say, “Be a Mary and a Martha.” In John’s Gospel, we hear about Martha’s reformed priorities (cf. John 11:20-27). This time, though she is in mourning the death of her brother, she immediately goes to meet Jesus on His way to her. She isn’t passive about her relationship with Him, and she isn’t preoccupied with her loss and suffering. She drops everything and goes to Jesus.

Jesus questions her faith, and she proclaim the words that should be on the lips of all Christians:

“‘Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.’" John 11:27

Martha demonstrates what conversion looks like. She went from preoccupation with worldly matters to a deep faith that surpassed even her intense grief at the loss of her brother.

Ponder:

When I find myself stressed and preoccupied with the worries of this world, how can I let the examples of Martha and Mary guide my heart back to Jesus?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, thank You for the example of Your faithful servants, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Help me to live in true conversion, knowing that You are the resurrection and the life.

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