Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Feast day: July 29
Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. Jesus was a frequent guest at their home in Bethany, a small village two miles from Jerusalem. Three of those visits were mentioned in the Gospels of Luke and John. On one visit, recorded in Luke (10:38-42), Martha complained that Mary sat listening to Jesus, leaving her with all the work. Jesus chided her, saying, “It is Mary who has chosen the better part.” Martha was the one who went out to meet Jesus when Lazarus died. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Tradition states that Martha went with Mary and Lazarus to Gaul (modern France), serving as missionaries.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God,
whose Son was pleased to be welcomed
in Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus’ house as a guest,
grant, we pray,
that through their intercession,
serving Christ faithfully in our brothers and sisters,
we may merit to be received by you
in the halls of heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
