July 29th is the Feast of Saint Martha, sister of Mary of Bethany, and the patron saint of homemakers, cooks and domestic workers. Martha and Mary followed Jesus during His ministry and they hosted Him in their home. Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and their brother Lazarus very much (John 11:5).
Martha demonstrated her devotion to Jesus through hospitality and would occupy herself with serving Him. On one occasion, she called upon Jesus to instruct her sister Mary to help her serve Him, but Jesus replied that her sister “has made the right choice and it will not be taken away from her”. Mary expressed her faith in Jesus by sitting at His feet and listening to Him.
We see Martha’s growth in her faith demonstrated in John 11:27 when she tells Jesus “I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God; He who is to come into the world.”
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The three siblings had a well established relationship with Jesus, and His conversations with Martha are well documented throughoutJohn Chapter 11. He cared for her family so much that when Lazarus died, Jesus raised him from the dead 4 days later, with Martha and other mourners as witnesses. |
Icon of the Holy TrinityThis 15th century icon depicts the Holy Trinity. In Genesis 18:1-10, “Abraham’s Hospitality”, Abraham refers to the 3 angels as The Lord, and their visit is traditionally interpreted as an announcement of the Holy Trinity. The angels appear similarly and are seated at the same level, illustrating equality between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The angel wearing the red robe of a priest, is Jesus, with the chalice housing His body. |
Icon of the Virgin of The PietaThe Icon of the Virgin of the Pieta was painted near the end of the 15th century by Andreas Pavias or Nicolaos Tzafouris. It is based on Michelangelo’s The Pieta, meaning pity or compassion. Capturing the moment when Jesus was taken down from the cross and given to His mother, Mary sorrowfully contemplates her dead Son on her lap. We are invited to mediate on Mary and the angels’ immense grief. |
