JESUS’ POWER OVER DEATH! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Friday, 29^thJuly 2016,

Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time

Memorial of St. Martha.

Yer 18: 1-6;

Ps 146: 1-5;

Jn 11: 19-27 or Lk 10: 38-42

JESUS’ POWER OVER DEATH!

“Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus” (Jn 11: 5). This unique statement in John’s gospel tells us of the special relationship Jesus had with Martha, her sister, and her brother. It appears that Jesus was a frequent guest at Martha’s home in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem. We read of three visits in Lk 10: 38-42, Jn 11: 1-53 and Jn 12: 1-9. Let us also build that love relationship with Jesus, the Son of God because in the first reading of today John says, ‘he who loves is born of God and knows God’. May he not only be the frequent guest in our life but more than that may he be an integral part of our family.

During the second visit of Jesus she is grieving the death of her brother with a house full of mourners. But 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. Here we see a transformed Martha. Though she is in pain she goes to meet the Lord. Now she knows what is necessary in life. Further in her dialogue she states clearly without doubt that she believes in Jesus’ power, in the resurrection of the dead. Because of this strong faith in Jesus, she draws from Jesus one of the great sayings of John’s gospel: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die”. This, in turn, draws a great profession of faith from Martha: “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” And then Jesus goes on to raise her brother from the dead.

Prayer: Lord I truly believe that You will raise me up on the last day. Amen..