March 16: Martha's Journey
♫ Music:
Monday, March 16
Scripture: John 11:17-27
Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
MARTHA’S JOURNEY
It’s impossible for me to read this passage about Martha’s faith without thinking “Wait, isn’t this Martha? As in, I’m-too-busy-doing-things-to-spend-time-with-Jesus Martha? As in, I’m-trying-to-be-hospitable-but-I’m-alone-in-this-kitchen Martha? As in, why-is-nobody-acknowledging-all-the-ways-I’m-serving-them Martha? As in wow-this-hits-really-close-to-home Martha? Yep, it’s that Martha.
But today’s passage from John shows a Martha who is growing in faith, a Martha whose belief in God’s faithfulness occasioned the words “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” I see a Martha who is learning to run to Christ, sit at his feet, to listen, and to trust.
So how can I enter into Martha’s journey from point A to point B?
Lent is a time for silencing clamor and busyness. In this season, I’m suddenly aware of just how much I distract myself from listening to Christ. I need to hear his gentle words to Martha: “My beloved, you are so stressed. You are carrying a burden that’s too heavy. Thank you for trying to serve me, but what I really want is for you to sit here and know you’re loved. Listen; only one thing is necessary (Luke 10:41-42, paraphrased).” I imagine the one thing that’s necessary is the faith that comes from listening to the words of love he speaks over us (Romans 10:17). His desire is for us to sit with him and listen, because he alone has the words of life.
But sitting still is hard. There are so many good things to do. But if those good things keep me from being with Christ, they are death. I too quickly forget that the most important thing is to be with him. Christ comes to bring resurrection and life; he calls me out of the death of my anxiety and self-sufficiency.
Take a moment to look at the artwork for today, beautifully woven with layers of meaning. It shows the Vanquisher of Death in three panels - first comforting Martha, then raising Lazarus, then being anointed for his own burial and resurrection by Mary. The intricate spiraled patterns overlaid on these panels are evocative of breath, the breath of life that Christ speaks over and into us, swirling around us and powerfully beckoning us into his resurrected life. Some reject it; others breathe deeply and are changed. Changed like Martha.
In John 12, we see her one last time. There is a dinner honoring Jesus and the freshly raised Lazarus. We read, “Martha served.” That’s all. But those words ring with a simplicity so unlike the earlier, fretful Martha. They sing of a heart that is being transformed by love and gratitude. A heart that can sit with her Lord no matter what the circumstances.
This Lenten season may we have courage to say with Martha:
PRAYER
"You are the Christ, the Resurrection and the Life. We kneel down in reverence profound, for all we who are dead in sin, in Thee, O Jesus, are made alive.”
-from Rejoice, O Bethany
Rachel Glazener, Networking Coordinator, Conservatory of Music
Lazarus
Dinh Q. Lê
1991
Photo-weaving
About the Artist & Art
Dinh Q. Lê (b. 1968) is a Vietnamese American fine art photographer. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and The School of The Visual Arts in New York. He now produces work in both Los Angeles and Vietnam. His works have been displayed in galleries across the United States, in China and Australia, and in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. His images are created by weaving several layers of photographic strips together in the way traditional Vietnamese grass mats are made. He uses the several layers in his work to mix and combine Eastern and Western imagery, current and historical events, and his own personal and imagined memories of the Vietnam War.
About the Music
When Thou Didst Raise Lazarus lyrics
O Christ God,
When thou didst raise Lazarus from the dead before thy passion,
Thou didst reveal the universal resurrection.
Wherefore we like the children, carry palms of victory and triumph
And cry to thee, the vanquisher of death.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!
Rejoice, O Bethany lyrics
Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany.
On this day, God came to thee
And in him the dead are made alive
As is right for he is the life.
When Martha went to receive him,
Grieving loudly with bitter tears,
She poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him
With great sadness, wailing her lament.
She at once cried out to Him:
My most compassionate Lord, my Lord
At the great loss of my brother Lazarus
My heart is broken, help me.
Jesus said to her: cease your weeping,
Cease your grieving and sad lament.
For your brother, my most beloved friend,
Lazarus, very soon will live again.
Then He, the faithful Redeemer,
Made his way unto the tomb,
Where he cried unto him, who was buried four days,
Calling him forth saying: Lazarus arise.
Come with haste, ye two sisters,
And behold a wondrous thing,
For your brother from the tomb has returned to life.
To the beloved Redeemer, now give thanks.
To thee O Lord of creation,
We kneel down in reverence profound
For we who are dead in sin
In thee O Jesus are made alive.
About the Musicians & Music
The Boston Byzantine Choir was started in 1993 at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Now the choir is composed of members from a number of Eastern Orthodox churches in the area. The goal of the choir is to make Byzantine music accessible to the English-speaking world. When Thou Didst Raise Lazarus and Rejoice, O Bethany are two chants from the Lazarus Saturday liturgy which precedes Palm Sunday.
www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/bbc