Being that close to Jesus -
And still not understanding a word he said.
We all may take consolation in the fact that even the disciples, and most especially, Martha and Mary from today’s Gospel (Jn. 11:1-44), often had little idea of what Jesus was talking about. Like Martha, how many of us have said, “Yes Lord, I have come to believe…” and yet continue to rely on our own understanding or perceptions of what his will should be? We who claim to know the scriptures, as well as the teaching and documents of the Church?
After Martha told Jesus she believed in him and after he asked that the stone be rolled back from the tomb of Lazarus, she protested, “Lord, it has been four days! There will be a stench.” (Remember, Martha is the one who complained about Mary just sitting there listening to Jesus - Martha should have known better.) But she really didn’t even know what she was saying minutes before when she attempted to assure the Lord, “I have come to believe…” It is much like Thomas saying in this same gospel, “Let us go to die with him” - and yet we know how all the disciples deserted Jesus in the garden the night of his arrest.
Sadly, we all do it. Even when we try to convince ourselves, our associates, and our Lord, that we know better. It is good to be found out that we know nothing.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Every time I hear this passage read I remember Mother Angelica joking about Martha, how she was thinking she was informing the Lord of something He didn’t know and I especially love the funny way she put it, “Lord, he’s been in there 4 days. Surely, he stinketh!”
March 9th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Completely off-topic: you look an awful lot like Syler from Heroes in that new pic
March 9th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Martha, for all her human faults, was perhaps the first person, before the Apostles Peter and Thomas, to acknowledge Jesus correctly:
“I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.”
March 10th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Ray, true, she did! St Martha is one of my favorite Saints, she is so real, so gritty– and still she is a Saint! This fact gives us all hope. We have a lot to learn from Martha!