my ~*martha*~ spin on John 11

i went to 4:30 mass yesterday so i could sub in for my *prepping for a catering job* husband as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.

for those of you who are Catholic (or Episcopalian, i believe), you will know this as true: the Gospel is getting longer as we approach Easter. i love the fact the reading is so long because it is giving a broader, yet more defined message of Jesus and His teachings. today's Gospel reading is John 11:1-45, the raising of lazarus from the dead.

please know that i recognize the raising of lazarus being the theme central to this reading. the miracle of raising someone from the dead should not be brushed by in an effort to spin my thread, so let's take the appropriate moment to reflect on just that fact before proceeding.

*lengthy pause for reflection*



*end, lengthy pause for reflection*

okay, continuing on. being a big martha fan i, of course, am interested in any scripture that she is mentioned in, i feel pretty close to her and feel also she is a bit misunderstood. maybe that isn't being all that objective, but it's truth. so i am standing and listening to the Word and what sticks out, if i might just pull a few sentences?

Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.

can i tell you, i had no idea it was *this* mary? i guess from years of watching Jesus of Nazareth, the *mary* in this particular movie was mary madgalen. i heard this as if for the first time...

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

i heard this as Now Jesus loved Martha (and her sister and Lazarus...) is that not hilarious? was i selective in my punctuation shift or what??

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.

well, now. who is the more important sister nooowwww??? my diabolical self said "gee, i guess she must've been tired from sitting at the Lord's feet," but then remembered the ~anointing with oil~ sentence above and decided she was worth cutting a break to... forgive me, Adonai.

Jesus told her [martha], "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. Do you believe this?" She [martha] 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." (emphasis added)

yess!!! good answer, good answer!!! you go, martha! whoops were going up from inside of me, rock on sistah...

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, "The teacher is here and is asking for you."

while i can only guess from knowing martha's personality all too well, i can only applaud the fact that she, while i am SURE wanted to keep Jesus all to herself, did the right and noble thing and went and called her sister. but in secret. she didn't want to let everyone else know she was being noble and just and upright, that is so like her. bless her heart.

Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the dead man's sister, said to him, "Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?"

okay, now this hit me in between the eyes today - first thought? martha was concerned about the smell after her brother being entombed for four days...question: who wouldn't be? answer: those who lack the foresight of the bigger picture, the greater good. to me, admittedly, she reacted as martha would - worried. however, how often have we been asked (or *required*) to go through something that may be unpalatable or undesireable when the greater glory God is after will be revealed after the trial or the undesired activity? i can identify with that more than i'd like to admit.

"LAZARUS, COME FORTH!!" while not spoken from the ambo yesterday in the manner which would have been worthy of the drama it totally deserved, i am guessing that martha ran back home to tidy up and prepare a meal - a celebration would have thus ensued and much would have to be done...

that's my spin and i'm stickin' to it.