The Home Where Jesus Was Always Welcome
- Jul 8
- 7 min read
Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus | 29 July
Every Family is Different
Every family has different personalities. Some naturally serve. Some quietly listen. Some inspire hope simply through their faith.
The Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus reminds us that holiness is not about becoming the same person. Rather, it is about allowing Christ to be at the centre of our homes, our relationships and our lives.
Jesus did not simply visit Bethany once. He returned there often because it was a place of friendship, welcome and love. The Gospel tells us:
"Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." (John 11:5)
Theirs was not a perfect family. They experienced misunderstanding, grief and loss. Yet through it all, they remained close to Jesus. Their home became a place where faith was lived, hospitality was offered, and hope was restored.
Perhaps that is why the Church invites us to celebrate them together.
Why This Feast Matters
For centuries, 29 July was celebrated as the Memorial of St Martha alone.
In 2021, Pope Francis decreed that the liturgical memorial would include Mary and Lazarus as well. Rather than honouring only one member of the family, the Church now celebrates all three siblings together, recognising their shared witness of friendship with Christ and their unique expressions of discipleship.
The Vatican describes them as offering an "evangelical witness", showing that there are many ways to follow Christ faithfully. Martha, Mary and Lazarus each responded differently to Jesus, yet all became faithful disciples.
Their story reminds us that the Church is enriched not by uniformity, but by the many gifts of her members, united in Christ.
Three Siblings. Three Disciples. Three Gifts.
St Martha
The Generous Servant
When Jesus came to Bethany, Martha was the one who welcomed Him into her home.
She is remembered for her hospitality, generosity and practical care. She noticed what needed to be done and quietly got on with serving others.
Yet Martha's greatness was never simply her activity.
Standing before the tomb of her brother, she made one of the strongest professions of faith recorded in the Gospels:
"I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world." (John 11:27)
Her service flowed from faith.
Patron Saint of: cooks, butlers, dieticians, homemakers, innkeepers, maids, single laywomen, servers and travellers.
Her invitation to us: Serve generously, but never lose sight of the One you are serving.
St Mary of Bethany
The Attentive Disciple
Mary teaches us that discipleship begins not with doing, but with listening.
While Martha busied herself with serving, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, the place traditionally reserved for a disciple learning from a rabbi. She chose to listen to His word before doing anything else.
Later, Mary anointed Jesus with costly perfume, recognising His identity and preparing Him for His Passion with an act of profound love.
She reminds us that prayer is never wasted time. Time spent with Christ is what gives meaning to everything else we do.
Patron Saint of: spiritual studies and lectors.
Her invitation to us: Before serving Christ, learn to remain with Him.
St Lazarus
The Living Witness
Lazarus speaks very little in Scripture.
Yet his life proclaimed one of the greatest truths of the Gospel.
When Jesus called him from the tomb, Lazarus became a living sign that Christ truly is "the resurrection and the life."
His witness did not come primarily through words, but through the transformation that everyone could see. Even after his resurrection, many came to believe in Jesus because of Lazarus.
Patron Saint of: gravediggers.
His invitation to us: Let your life become a testimony to what Christ has done.
Which Disciple Resonates Most With You?
Martha, Mary and Lazarus each encountered Jesus in a unique way, yet all became faithful disciples. Which one resonates most with you today?
🧺 MarthaThe Generous Servant | 📖MaryThe Attentive Disciple | 🌿LazarusThe Living Witness |
You naturally notice what needs to be done and express your love through practical acts of service. You enjoy welcoming others, helping behind the scenes, and ensuring everyone feels cared for. | You are drawn to prayer, reflection and listening to God's Word. You value quiet moments with the Lord and seek to deepen your relationship with Him before taking action. | You may not always be the first to speak, but your life quietly points others towards Christ. Through perseverance, hope and trust in God, your faith becomes a testimony to those around you. |
Strength: Faith expressed through loving service. Invitation: Serve generously, but always make time to sit with Jesus. | Strength: Listening, contemplation and love for God's Word. Invitation: Let your time with Christ overflow into loving action. | Strength: A life transformed by Christ that inspires hope. Invitation: Continue to let your everyday life bear witness to God's love. |
💙 Or perhaps...
You see a little of Martha, Mary and Lazarus in yourself.
Like them, we are all called to grow in service, prayer and witness, allowing Christ to shape our lives through the unique gifts He has given us.
Which Disciple Resonates Most With You?
🧺 Martha – I serve.
📖 Mary – I listen.
🌿 Lazarus – I witness.
✨ A little of all three.
One Family. One Lord.
Individually, Martha, Mary and Lazarus are remembered for different gifts.
Martha served.
Mary listened.
Lazarus witnessed.
None was more important than another.
Together, they reveal something even greater: a family centred on Christ.
Their home became a place of welcome, prayer, faith, friendship and hope—a place where Jesus was always welcome.
The Church celebrates them together because discipleship is never lived alone. Different personalities, different vocations and different gifts all have a place in God's family.
Although they are not officially the patron saints of siblings, Martha, Mary and Lazarus offer the Church a beautiful model of family life centred on Christ. As siblings who each responded to Jesus in their own way, they remind us that different gifts can work together in faithful discipleship.
Perhaps every Christian family is called to become another Bethany, where Christ is welcomed, loved and encountered.
From Bethany To Our Parish
The family of Bethany reminds us that every Christian home can become a place where Christ is welcomed.
The same is true of every parish. Like the family of Bethany, our parish is made up of people with different gifts and different vocations.
Some are like Martha, quietly serving behind the scenes through hospitality, administration, liturgical ministries, caring for the church, or reaching out to those in need. Others are like Mary, nurturing the spiritual life of the community through prayer, Scripture, formation and Eucharistic Adoration. And others resemble Lazarus, witnessing to Christ through lives transformed by God's mercy, offering hope simply by the way they live.
No single gift is enough on its own. It is when these gifts come together that people truly encounter Christ.
This echoes the words of St Paul, who reminds us that though we are many parts, we form one Body in Christ. Each member has something unique to contribute, and every gift helps build up the Church.
As our parish continues to live our theme, Creating Christ Encounters: Many Parts, One Body, may we become another Bethany: a place where every person is welcomed, every disciple discovers his or her gifts, and every visitor encounters the living Christ.
Encounter Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Scripture
Want to know Martha, Mary and Lazarus better? Their story unfolds across the Gospels, revealing their friendship with Jesus, their faith, and their witness as disciples. Spend some time praying with these passages and allow the Lord to speak to you through their lives.
📖 Jesus Visits Martha and Mary
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus is welcomed into the home of Martha and Mary. While Martha busies herself with serving, Mary chooses to sit at the Lord's feet and listen to His teaching. This well-loved passage reminds us that discipleship begins by first listening to Christ.
📖 The Raising of Lazarus
John 11:1-44
When Lazarus falls ill and dies, Jesus journeys to Bethany. Martha makes her profound profession of faith:
"I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world." (John 11:27)
Jesus then raises Lazarus from the dead, revealing Himself as "the resurrection and the life" and strengthening the faith of those who witnessed the miracle.
📖 The Plot Against Jesus
John 11:45-57
This passage describes how the raising of Lazarus leads many to believe in Jesus, while also prompting the religious leaders to begin plotting His death. It marks a significant turning point in the Gospel as Christ's journey towards the Cross gathers momentum.
📖 Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany
John 12:1-11
Six days before the Passover, Jesus returns to Bethany. Martha serves the meal, Lazarus sits at table with Jesus, and Mary anoints the Lord's feet with costly perfume, preparing Him for His Passion through an extraordinary act of love and devotion.
Scripture by Saint
If you would like to follow each saint's journey individually, these passages focus particularly on them:
🧺 Martha | 📖Mary | 🌿Lazarus |
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Scripture references are taken from the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB).
Reflection
As you celebrate the Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, take a few moments to reflect:
What do you think made Jesus feel at home in Bethany?
Which one do you find the hardest: serving, listening or witnessing?
What's one small thing your family could do this week to make more room for Christ?
Who has helped you encounter Christ in our parish, and how can you help someone else feel at home?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You found friendship, welcome and love in the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
Help me to welcome You into my own heart and home.
Teach me to serve generously like Martha,
to listen attentively like Mary,
and to witness courageously like Lazarus.
May my family and community always place You at the centre,
so that through our different gifts we may become one in Your love.
Amen.
