Today’s saint—Martha of Bethany—is a saint indeed a saint for that struggle, but she’s also a saint for another struggle many may be facing right now—the struggle to maintain faith in a time of darkness. Because she is portrayed in the Gospels as the one who tends to the material needs of Jesus in hosting, preparing, and serving meals for him, Martha often gets caricatured as a saintly Martha Stewart. Sadly, she is also often reduced to the moment in Luke’s Gospel when Jesus gently reminds her that “there is need of only one thing” (see Luke 10:41–42).
Domestic life can be… challenging. Many people are still spending more and more time in their homes, and many more are finding that the struggle to keep the home a space where people would actually want to spend their time is very, very real.
Prayer To St Martha Of Bethany
While it is indeed an important and necessary reminder to anyone who is tempted to let the worries of domestic responsibilities interfere with spiritual obligations (those of us who have thought briefly about folding laundry while live-streaming Mass know this temptation well), this episode only shows one side of Martha. Luke doesn’t record Martha’s response to Jesus, but I imagine she felt humbled and convicted, yet also infinitely loved by her Lord, and inspired to commit herself more intently to listening to his teachings and following his example.
It is in John’s Gospel (the Gospel proclaimed today at Mass) that we see how deeply Martha has taken Jesus’ words to heart. In the wake of her brother Lazarus’ death, Martha makes a stunning confession of faith on par with that of St. Peter (see Luke 9:18–21, just one chapter before the episode with Martha and Mary and Jesus). The scene is well worth revisiting:
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.” (John 11:25–27)
The Martha of Luke’s Gospel and the Martha of John’s Gospel are one and the same: in Luke’s Gospel we see the active Martha, and in John’s Gospel, we see the contemplative Martha, whose unquestioning belief in Jesus’ divinity and his power to raise her brother back to life could only have arisen from the heart of one who learned to choose the better part as her sister Mary had.
What’s interesting is that, of the three siblings of Bethany—Martha, Mary, and Lazarus—it’s only Martha who is formally celebrated in current liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite. Perhaps this is because the Gospels show us the depth of her personal transformation, her conversion. Martha learned to let her love for Christ permeate every facet of her life, allowing her domestic sphere to become a domestic church—a place where she learned to perform every simple, mundane task as an offering of love; a place where, even in the midst of action, she continued to contemplate the One she knew without doubt to be the Christ, the Son of God.
These days, you may be struggling to fulfill even the most simple of domestic tasks. You may be struggling even more to maintain any semblance of a contemplative, spiritual life. If such is the case, ask St. Martha to help you welcome Christ into your home, and especially into your heart, as she did. Make an Act of Spiritual Communion—even if you are in the midst of folding laundry or tending to a loved one—and ask Jesus to help you learn to live each moment with your heart fixed on him, for he is the only thing needed.
The Old Testament contains the vast majority of biblical dreams. God utilized dreams and visions to communicate with the people of the Old Testament when they only had limited access to His written word, or none at all in the case of those who lived before Moses.
Essentially, it’s releasing our wants, needs, suffering, and sadness to God while maintaining an attitude of gratitude.
Giving thanks in all circumstances helps us see how much we rely on God’s guidance to thrive in this world. John 15:5 makes it clear that we are fully aware of our utter dependence on God.
As our relationship with God grows and we see His hand at work, we realize that His ways are superior and that His plan and purpose for our lives are truly magnificent.Praying regularly is essential for developing a stronger relationship with God. Similar to how you could confide in your best friend over lunch. Yet, in the first place, we can take our worries to God.
Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica that if we come to God in prayer with a ready heart, He will strengthen our bond with Him.
The first step in developing a closer relationship with God is realizing Who it is that we are praying to. Although we might have a deep personal relationship with God, and He knows us inside and out, we must never forget that He is worthy of the highest awe and regard.
To show our awe and reverence for God (Deuteronomy 13:4), we must celebrate God for who He is. We can do this with music or praise. To do this, we need just take delight in God’s manifold gifts to us or in the natural beauty that surrounds us.
An effective prayer life begins with praise to God. The next stunning sunset won’t last forever, so don’t miss it. Count your blessings that God has united you with a loved one.
Recognize God as the source of your success. Since the Lord has been there for you through the good times and the bad, you will eventually be able to find joy in Him despite your current circumstances.
When we encountered Jesus and learned about His life, His many acts of kindness, and His ultimate death on the cross, we saw God’s plan come to completion, as depicted in the gospels. That calls for a pause for thought and reflection, during which we might give God our deepest thanks and praise.
St. Martha, disciple and friend of Jesus, pray for us!
St Martha Novena Prayer
St. Martha Novena Prayers
St. Martha Novena – Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Martha as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in her desire to be hospitable towards You while You were in her home.
St. Martha, the Gospel tells us that you and your sister Mary hosted Jesus in your home. You were anxious to be as hospitable as you could towards Jesus, and you tried to serve Him well.
Please bring my petitions before Christ Whom you served!
While you tended to household matters, your sister sat at the feet of Jesus. When Jesus gently rebuked you, you came to see that closeness to Jesus was even more important than actively serving Him.
Pray for me, that I may always strive to have a deep relationship with Christ. Pray that I may imitate your desire to serve God well in my life.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martha, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martha Novena – Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
O God, heavenly Father, whose Son, Jesus Christ, enjoyed rest and refreshment in the home of Mary and Martha of Bethany. Give us the will to love you, open our hearts to hear you, and strengthen our hands to serve you in others for his sake; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Martha as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she grew in after the time You were in her home.
St. Martha, you were anxious to serve Jesus well while He was in your home. Because your sister was not helping you with your tasks, you were impatient with her. But you soon began to grow in virtue.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
Our Lord told you that your sister had chosen the better part by sitting at His feet. After this incident, you began to grow to a deeper faith and trust in God.
Pray for me, that I may always strive to grow in faith and trust. Pray that I may never allow anxieties to lead me to impatience.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martha, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martha Novena – Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Martha as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she grew in after You told her that Mary had chosen the better part.
St. Martha, you were frustrated with your sister for sitting at the feet of Jesus while you worked on important household tasks. But when Jesus told you that Mary had chosen better than you, you began to grow in your relationship with God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you wished to serve!
You later showed that you had taken Jesus’ words to heart when you ran to meet Him and expressed your faith in Him.
Pray for me, that I may continually seek to grow closer to God in my prayer life. Pray that I may be given the grace of true contemplation in prayer.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martha, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martha Novena – Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Martha as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue she showed in her desire to serve You while You were in her home.
St. Martha, you were not wrong in your desire to serve Jesus through active works of hospitality. But His words to you show that a deep relationship with God is important for us first.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you served!
Christ told you that Mary had chosen the better part by sitting to listen at His feet. You took His words to heart and entered more deeply into your relationship with God.
Pray for me, that I may always ground my active works in love for God. Pray that I may strive to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martha, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Martha Novena – Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Martha as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You she grew in after the time You spent as a guest in her home.
St. Martha, you heard Jesus praise your sister’s attentive devotion to Him as she sat at His feet. From that time on, you began to grow to a deeper relationship with Jesus and love for Him.
Please bring my petitions before Christ Whom you loved!
When your brother was ill, you sent word to Jesus in faith. You dropped everything to go meet Christ as He came to you, and you expressed your deep faith in Him.
Pray for me, that I may grow in my relationship with God. Pray that I may have the grace to serve Jesus with a single-minded devotion.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Martha, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
