HAPPY FEAST
Intimate Friendship and Loving Discipleship
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” (Jn 11:21-22).
Friendship is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity. Without this precious gift, life would become lonely and unbearable. Jesus, the Son of God, sanctified friendship by deeply engaging in intimate friendship with three siblings in an amazing family in Bethany. We get to know about Martha, Mary, and Lazarus from two evangelists: Luke and John.
Luke briefly focuses on Martha’s active serving and Mary’s listening (Lk 10:38-42). John, on the other hand, dedicates the eleventh chapter and first eleven verses of the twelfth chapter describing heartfelt friendship between Jesus and Bethany siblings. The theological virtues of faith, hope, and love shine forth in and through the loving discipleship and generous hospitality shown by them.
On the feast of Bethany siblings, let us make a firm resolve to develop an intimate friendship with Jesus through loving discipleship!
Good day and God bless us all!