St Martha Medal

St Martha Medal

2.5cm long x 1.5cm wide

Facts

Feastday:

July 29


Patron:

of cooks

"Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus." This unique statement in
John's gospel tells us of the special relationship Jesus had with
Martha, her sister, and her brother.

Apparently Jesus was a frequent guest at Martha's home in Bethany, a
small village two miles from Jerusalem. We read of three visits in Luke
10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9.

Many of us find it easy to identify with Martha in the story Luke
tells. Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her home and
immediately goes to work to serve them.

Hospitality is paramount in the Middle East and Martha believed in
its importance. Imagine her frustration when her sister Mary ignores the
rule of hospitality and Martha's work in order to sit and listen to
Jesus. Instead of speaking to her sister, she asks Jesus to intervene.

Jesus' response is not unkind, which gives us an idea of his
affection for her. He observes that Martha is worried about many things
that distract her from really being present to him. He reminds her that
there is only one thing that is truly important -- listening to him. And
that is what Mary has done.

In Martha we see ourselves -- worried and distracted by all we have
to do in the world and forgetting to spend time with Jesus. It is,
however, comforting to note that Jesus loved her just the same.

The next visit shows how well Martha learned this lesson. She is
grieving the death of her brother with a house full of mourners when she
hears that Jesus has just come to the area. She gets up immediately and
leaves the guests, leaves her mourning, and goes to meet him.

Her conversation with Jesus shows her faith and courage. In this
dialogue she states clearly without doubt that she believes in Jesus'
power, in the resurrection, and most of all that Jesus is the Son of
God.

Jesus tells her that he is the resurrection and the life and then
goes on to raise her brother from the dead. Our final picture of Martha
in Scripture is the one that sums up who she was.

Jesus has returned to Bethany some time later to share a meal with
his good friends. In this home were three extraordinary people. We hear
how brother Lazarus caused a stir when was brought back to life.

We hear how Mary causes a commotion at dinner by anointing

"Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus." This unique statement in
John's gospel tells us of the special relationship Jesus had with
Martha, her sister, and her brother.

Apparently Jesus was a frequent guest at Martha's home in Bethany, a
small village two miles from Jerusalem. We read of three visits in Luke
10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9.

Many of us find it easy to identify with Martha in the story Luke
tells. Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her home and
immediately goes to work to serve them.

Hospitality is paramount in the Middle East and Martha believed in
its importance. Imagine her frustration when her sister Mary ignores the
rule of hospitality and Martha's work in order to sit and listen to
Jesus. Instead of speaking to her sister, she asks Jesus to intervene.

Jesus' response is not unkind, which gives us an idea of his
affection for her. He observes that Martha is worried about many things
that distract her from really being present to him. He reminds her that
there is only one thing that is truly important -- listening to him. And
that is what Mary has done.

In Martha we see ourselves -- worried and distracted by all we have
to do in the world and forgetting to spend time with Jesus. It is,
however, comforting to note that Jesus loved her just the same.

The next visit shows how well Martha learned this lesson. She is
grieving the death of her brother with a house full of mourners when she
hears that Jesus has just come to the area. She gets up immediately and
leaves the guests, leaves her mourning, and goes to meet him.

Her conversation with Jesus shows her faith and courage. In this
dialogue she states clearly without doubt that she believes in Jesus'
power, in the resurrection, and most of all that Jesus is the Son of
God.

Jesus tells her that he is the resurrection and the life and then
goes on to raise her brother from the dead. Our final picture of Martha
in Scripture is the one that sums up who she was.

Jesus has returned to Bethany some time later to share a meal with
his good friends. In this home were three extraordinary people. We hear
how brother Lazarus caused a stir when was brought back to life.

We hear how Mary causes a commotion at dinner by annointing Jesus
with expensive perfume. But all we hear about Martha is the simple
statement: "Martha served." She isn't in the spotlight, she doesn't do
showy things, she doesn't receive spectacular miracles. She simply
serves Jesus.

We know nothing more about Martha and what happened to her later.
According to a totally untrustworthy legend Martha accompanied Mary to
evangelize France after Pentecost.

But wouldn't it be wonderful if the most important thing that could be said about us is "They served"?

Martha is the patron saint of servants and cooks.

In Her Footsteps


Dorothy Day said: "If everyone were holy and handsome, it would be easy
to see Christ in everyone. But it was not Christ's way for himself. Ask
honestly what you would do when a beggar asked at your house for food.

Would you give it on an old cracked plate, thinking that was good
enough? Do you think that Martha and Mary thought that the old and
chipped dish was good enough for their guest?

It is not a duty to help Christ -- it is a privilege." In what ways do
you serve Christ others grudgingly or sparingly? How can you serve them
the way Martha served Christ, putting her whole self into it?

Prayer


Saint Martha, pray for us that we might serve Jesus better.

Help us to overcome our distractions and worries to listen to his words and be present to him this day.

Amen..