Saint Martha of Bethany
It is the Gospels that offer news about Martha of Bethany, a village a few kilometers from Jerusalem. Sister of Lazarus and Mary, she is presented as a diligent and scrupulous woman and, certainly, one of the first women to believe in Jesus. She hosted him many times in her house, when she was passing through to Judea. Lucas offers a detailed portrait of Marta, describing her in her daily life.
When narrating one of the times that Jesus was at the table with his friends from Bethany, the evangelist writes: «She had a sister, called Mary, who, sitting at the feet of the Lord, listened to her words. Marta, on the other hand, was very busy with household chores. Then he came closer and said, “Sir, don’t you mind that my sister left me alone to do the housework? Tell him to come help me.” But the Lord replied: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and busy with so many things, but only one is necessary.” Mary chose the best part, which will never be taken away from her”» ( Luke 10:38-42 ).
The Master reprimands Marta, making her understand that her commendable service risks leading her to neglect her inner life. This is a warning that makes us reflect on how important it is to nourish the spirit and listen to the Word of God, as it is this Word that gives meaning to our daily actions.
In any case, due to her commendable dedication to the preparations, to offer the guest a comfortable stay in her home, Marta is recognized by the Church as a model of industriousness. Martha and Mary are, respectively, examples of action and contemplation, of an active life and a life of prayer. Therefore, both aspects should never be lacking in a Christian, nor should they oppose each other, but complement each other.
Martha's profession of faith
Marta gave us a great testimony of faith! From the words he addressed to Jesus, four days after the death of his brother Lazarus, a total creed emerges, without hesitation or doubt. Marta has unlimited trust in God, even in the face of what, to men, may seem impossible. «Martha, hearing that Jesus was coming, went to meet him. Maria sat at home. Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But now I also know that whatever you ask of God he will give you.” This in itself is an extraordinary profession of faith! But, the conversation between Martha and Jesus continues.
From this simple woman of Bethany we learn the lesson of what it means to believe in Jesus Christ. “Jesus said to him: Your brother will rise again. Martha said to her: I know that he will rise again in the resurrection of the last day. Jesus said to her: I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that? She said to him: Yes, Lord, I know that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world”» ( John 11:20-27 ). This is the essence of Christianity! Marta condenses all her faith in her answer, because this is the faith of every believer; a simple answer in which every Christian finds their purpose in life.
The origins of liturgical memory
Tradition narrates that, after the first persecutions of Christians, Martha, Mary, Lazarus and other disciples and women who followed Jesus left their homeland and moved to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, in the French region of Provence. , where they would have spread the Christian faith. The Franciscans were the first, in 1262, to celebrate Saint Martha on July 29, eight days after the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene.
In Bethany, today called El-Azariyeh (place of Lazarus), his tomb and a sanctuary still exist, built on some Byzantine and Crusader ruins, which, in turn, confirm pre-existing places. Probably, Marta's house was also there. The church, in the shape of a Greek cross in the sanctuary, was decorated with mosaics, which represent the evangelical episodes, which featured Martha, Mary and Lazarus as protagonists.