Martha, Mary & Lazarus Cistercian Calendar

Friday 29th July. Luke (10: 38-42)


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Donald ...
To: William J ...
Sent: Fri, 29 July, 2011 21:06:53
Subject: Fw: Bethany hospitality

Dear William,

St Martha ONLY is on the Universal Church Calendar.

Our Cistercian Calendar has the Bethany hospitality committee, Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

Fr. T. did them honours in the Mass Introduction. 

. . .

Yours, Donald

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: William J ...
To:  Donald ...
Sent: Sat, 30 July, 2011 14:37:18
Subject: The Blog Master's telepathy

Dear Father Donald,

 

I am still smiling at your 'Bethany hospitality committee'! Truly, Our Lord must have loved being amongst them, all the narratives have a wonderful intimacy about them. 

I will enjoy keeping the feast day in their names. 

 

...in Our Lord,

William

BENEDICT XVI

Courtyard of the Papal Residence, Castel Gandolfo
Sunday, 18 July 2010

The Homily from the previous year occasion, the Pope too speaks of the hospitality of Bethany.

Sts. Martha and Mary [Pope Benedict XVI's Homily]

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We are also reminded of this by this Sunday's Gospel passage with the well known episode of Jesus' visit to the house of Martha and Mary, recounted by St Luke (10: 38-42).

• Martha and Mary are two sisters; they also have a brother, Lazarus, but he does not appear on this occasion. Jesus is passing through their village and, the text says, Martha received him at her home (cf. 10: 38). This detail enables us to understand that Martha is the elder of the two, the one in charge of the house. Indeed, when Jesus has been made comfortable, Mary sits at his feet and listens to him while Martha is totally absorbed by her many tasks, certainly due to the special Guest.
• We seem to see the scene: one sister bustling about busily and the other, as it were, enraptured by the presence of the Teacher and by his words. A little later Martha, who is evidently resentful, can no longer resist and complains, even feeling that she has a right to criticize Jesus: "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me". Martha would even like to teach the Teacher! Jesus on the other hand answers her very calmly: "Martha, Martha", and the repetition of her name expresses his affection, "you are anxious and troubled about many things; only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her" (10: 41-42). Christ's words are quite clear: there is no contempt for active life, nor even less for generous hospitality; rather, a distinct reminder of the fact that the only really necessary thing is something else: listening to the word of the Lord; and the Lord is there at that moment, present in the Person of Jesus! All the rest will pass away and will be taken from us but the word of God is eternal and gives meaning to our daily actions. 
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