July 29, 2021 Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time-B ST. MARTHAMARY AND LAZARUS

1 John 4:7-16

Psalm 34

John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42

“I have come to believe you are the Christ, the Son of God…”  John 11:27

Lord, Martha is sometimes given a bum rap because she complained to you that her sister Mary wasn’t doing her share of the work when you came to visit them. She was all business while Mary only wanted to listen to and to be with you.  But now that you show up after her brother Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days she expresses a wonderful faith. I believe you want a close, loving relationship with each of us. That close a relationship must be honest and open. So then you are OK with complaints, gripes, questions and even doubts because those are part of every honest relationship. At the same time your grace is always coming to us. You look into the hearts of Martha, Mary and me too and see what’s there. You provide exactly what is needed at every moment because you raised their brother from the dead even knowing that doing so would bring a death sentence upon yourself. Dear Jesus, give me the honest, open and loving heart of Martha so I too can be blest with the grace I need to live the abundant life you offer.  Amen