17TH WEDNESDAY HOMILY ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE FEAST OF SAINTS MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
Jer. 15:10,16-21, Ps. 59:2-5,10-11,17-18, John 11:19-27
Introduction
Dear friends, today we celebrate a special feast day for three close friends of Jesus: Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
These three lived together as a family, and their house was a place where Jesus loved to visit. It was a home where He could rest, eat, and spend time with good friends. Today’s Bible readings remind us that God is love, and that we can show God’s love to others through kindness, friendship, and strong trust in Him when life gets hard.
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Who Were Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus?
These three siblings lived in a small village called Bethany, near Jerusalem. They were very close friends with Jesus.
* Saint Martha: She was the hard worker. When Jesus visited, she cooked, cleaned, and made sure He was comfortable. She shows us how to love God through helping others.
* Saint Mary: She was the quiet listener. She loved to sit near Jesus’ feet and listen to Him teach. She shows us how to love God through prayer and listening.
* Saint Lazarus: He was the brother whom Jesus loved very much. When Lazarus got sick and died, Jesus wept for him and brought him back to life. He shows us God’s big power over death.
Theme of the Homily:
A Home Filled with Love and Faith
From our First Reading
In our first reading, Saint John tells us something simple but powerful: God is love. When we love others, God lives in us.
We see this love in action in today’s Gospel story. When Lazarus died, Martha was deeply sad. But when she heard Jesus was coming, she ran out to meet Him. She did not hide her sadness. She told Jesus directly, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Even though her heart was broken, Martha still trusted Him completely. Jesus then said to her words that bring us hope today.
“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even if they die… Do you believe this?”
Martha did not wait to see a miracle before she trusted Jesus. She looked right at Him and said, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Martha’s faith shows us that we do not need a perfect life to trust Jesus. Even when things go wrong or when we lose people we love, Jesus is right there with us, offering us hope and new life.
What Do We Learn from Them
* Balance work and prayer: Like Martha, we need to work hard and help others. Like Mary, we need to sit quietly and pray to Jesus. We need both in our daily lives.
* Be honest with Jesus: When you are sad, angry, or confused, talk to Jesus about it. He wants to hear your real feelings.
* Make your home welcoming: Jesus felt safe and loved in Bethany. We can make our own homes places where people feel welcomed and cared for.
* Trust God in hard times: Trust Jesus even when you cannot see how things will turn out.
Conclusion
Today, Jesus comes to us just as He came to the house in Bethany. He wants to be a part of our daily lives.
Let us offer Him Martha’s helping hands, Mary’s listening heart, and Lazarus’ trust in Him. When Jesus asks us today, “Do you believe in me?”, may we answer with simple faith: “Yes, Lord. I believe.” Amen.
Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Pray For Us !
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