Tuesday 29 July 2025 - The resurrection and the life

Tuesday 29 July 2025

Today is Tuesday the 29th of July, the feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, in the 17th week of Ordinary Time. The University of Johannesburg Choir sing the Kyrie: Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy. Kyrie eleison Christe eleison Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John. John 11:19-27 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother [Lazarus]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ 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. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’ Martha has suffered the terrible pain of losing a beloved family member. Her pain is compounded by a question many of us ask when devastated by loss: why was God not there when I was in need? Is this question one that you have asked or have witnessed in others? Can you enter into the feelings behind that question? Jesus doesn’t offer easy comfort. He challenges Martha to faith even in the face of death. How do you feel on hearing his words? He proclaims himself to be the resurrection and gives living proof of this after his own death. How do you experience Jesus as the resurrection in your day-to-day life? Now we hear the readings repeated. Notice what thoughts and feelings strike you and why. Jesus asks Martha to respond to him in faith. How do you find yourself responding to this scene? John 11:19-27 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother [Lazarus]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ 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. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’ This encounter between Jesus and Martha is full of challenge and honesty. Jesus invites us through this scene to speak from the heart and to listen with open ears. Take time now to do this. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen