HOMILY FOR 17TH WEDNESDAY OF ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE… LORD, DO YOU NOT CARE…?”
BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido
Jer. 15:10,16-21, Ps. 59:2-5,10-11,17-18, John 11:19-27
We know about Martha from the gospels. Even though we are not told much about Lazarus, we also know of Mary, his sister, as the one who sat with the disciples at the feet of Jesus and was commended by Jesus, despite her perceived laziness. She it was who also openly demonstrated her love and prophetically anointed the feet of Jesus with the expensive ointment in John 12, in preparation for the hour. She was the first to make it to the tomb of the Lord on the first day of week, the resurrection morning, and was commissioned by Jesus to bring the good news to the other disciples.
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Martha was Lazarus and Mary’s sister, hardworking and very prompt, probably a good cook and very hospitable. She was Jesus’ friend and hosted Jesus and his disciples occasionally. Most importantly, she was never afraid to speak her mind, and plainly so. Luke highlighted her busy nature and Jesus’ invitation for her to also develop her spiritual side, in addition to her dutifulness. John portrayed her encounter with Jesus with two important confessions of faith: faith in the resurrection on the Last Day, and faith in Jesus as the Christ, Son of God and Promised Messiah, a very profound Christological confession, much like Peter’s confession in Matt 16:16. In Martha, Jesus teaches us that a person of faith can be industrious and vice versa. Like Martha, we must learn to speak our minds before God, especially when we are frustrated and overwhelmed. We may sound ridiculous, but no sincere word, prayerfully spoken to God, is lost. Praying with a sense of intimacy and friendship is an art that we must learn, because, after all, prayer is also a conversation.
Jesus, our resurrection and life, raise us up from the rot and stench of our failures. Amen.
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