July 29 | Saints Mary, Martha, and Lazarus

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine stepping into a dark, cold stone tomb. The air is thick, stale, and carries the heavy sorrow of death. A man has been lying in there, wrapped in burial linens and grave clothes, for four long, heartbreaking days.

Outside the tomb, his two sisters have been weeping, absolutely devastated that their best friend, a man known for performing incredible miracles, didn't arrive in time to heal him before his final breath. But then, a voice echoes through the cavernous rocks. Come out! Suddenly, the dead man's fingers twitch. He sits up. Still wrapped in his grave clothes, he steps out into the blinding sunlight, alive.

This isn't a scene from a fantasy movie or a zombie comic book. This is one of the most dramatic, amazing, true miracles in all of history. And today, we aren't just talking about one saint. We're actually talking about an entire family.

Meet Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. These three lived back in the first century in a village called Bethany, which was very close to the bustling city of Jerusalem. They weren't just casual followers of Jesus in a crowd. The Gospels tell us they were his deeply beloved friends. Jesus used to visit their home and stay with them regularly. Their shared story is incredibly important because it highlights three totally different, but equally vital, dimensions of what it means to be a disciple. Service, contemplation, and witness.

Let's break down their sibling dynamic, because you might just recognize your own brothers or sisters in them. First, you have Martha. If you look at classic paintings or stained glass of Martha, you'll see her holding a set of keys, a ladle, or serving vessels. That's because she was the ultimate hard-working hostess. In the Gospel of Luke, we see Martha bustling about, stressing out over all the serving and preparations needed to host Jesus and his followers. She represents active service and is honored by the church as a model of hospitality, showing us what it means to welcome Christ into our homes.

In fact, she was so busy working that she actually complained to Jesus that her sister wasn't helping. But Jesus gently reminded her that Only one thing is necessary. That one thing brings us to the second sister, Mary. While Martha was running around the kitchen, Mary was doing something completely different. She was remembered for her profoundly contemplative heart. She simply sat at Jesus' feet, completely absorbed in listening to his words.

Mary's specific symbol in art is a jar of ointment or an alabaster vessel. This is because, according to some traditions, she is the same Mary who took incredibly costly ointment and anointed Jesus in the Gospel of John, chapter 12. This wasn't just a nice spa treatment. It was a massive gesture of love and a prophetic recognition of the terrible passion and suffering he was about to endure.

And then, of course, there's their brother, Lazarus, undoubtedly the most dramatic figure of the three. After falling terribly ill and dying, Jesus brought him back to life after four days in the tomb, an epic event recorded in John chapter 11. This miracle proved Christ's total power over death and actually foreshadowed Jesus' own resurrection.

Because of Lazarus and what happened to him, so many people came to believe in Jesus. He is often pictured with his grave clothes or tomb imagery representing his role as a living witness to God's power. Because they were such an incredible team, they share some awesome patronages. Together, they are the patron saints of siblings, hospitality, Christian family life, and their hometown of Bethany. Lazarus is also specifically invoked for the poor and against leprosy. After Jesus' ascension, traditions about their later lives vary.

Some accounts say they stayed right there in Bethany as major leaders of the early Christian community, while other legends claim they traveled all the way to Provence in southern France as missionaries. It was actually Pope Francis who decided in 2021 to add Mary and Lazarus to the July 29 celebration, which previously only celebrated St. Martha. Why? To emphasize how they shared their witness as a family, bound by love of the Lord, not just by blood.

So, what does this first century family mean for you today? They remind the church that discipleship takes many forms, but always springs from the same friendship with Christ. This week, look at your own life and practice the Bethany balance. When your family is getting ready for dinner or having guests over, channel your inner Martha. Put away your phone, grab a ladle, and help serve your family.

When you have five minutes of quiet before bed, channel your inner Mary. Sit still, quiet your mind, and just listen to God. And when you are at school or hanging out with friends, channel your inner Lazarus. Be a living witness of God's truth and joy to everyone you meet, showing them that miracles still happen. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.