This sister in faith can often get a bad rap – she is after all remembered most for her attitude during one of Jesus’ visits to their (Martha, Mary and Lazarus’) home – “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.” (Lk. 10:41).
BUT, she was also the one who recognized Jesus’ authority upon His return trip to their home after Lazarus’ death – “She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Jn. 11:27
In other words, she is us. She forgot, as we do, that the most important thing for us to do is make some real time for Jesus in our day. She then has that moment of real clarity when she recognizes who Jesus is and what He is doing.
Together with her sister, Mary, she is our patroness for one of my favorite virtues, eutrapelia, which reminds us of the need to take time to restore ourselves body and soul. Their flower is the dandelion. These flowers (of a sort) are, at both times, a joy to see when they are in our child’s hand and a frustration when we are yanking them from our lawns! They remind us of the need for balance; the give and take between what we need to do versus what we want to do.
So, when you ‘are anxious and worried about many things’ (and aren’t we all these days?), take heart. Martha is always praying for us and reminding us to remember that Jesus is ‘the Messiah, the one who is coming into the world.’ Plan to take a moment from your worries today; spend some time with Jesus and restore yourself.
