Simple faith and prayers

Prayer for the Day

O blessed St. Martha, your faith led Jesus to proclaim, “I am the resurrection and the life”; and faith let you see beyond His humanity when you cried out, “Lord I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God.” With firm hope you said, “I know that God will give You whatever you ask of Him”, and Jesus called your brother Lazarus back from the dead. With pure love for Jesus you welcomed Him into your home.

Friend and servant of our Savior, I too am “troubled about many things”. Pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love, and that Jesus, who sat at your table, will hear me and grant me a place at the banquet of eternal life. Amen.   

Reflection

Mark tells the story of Jesus visiting Martha and her sister Mary.  Martha complains that she is doing all the work, while Mary just sits at the feet of Jesus while He teaches.  Jesus reprimands her, telling her not to worry about the small stuff, and that Mary has chosen the better path. (Lk 10:38-42)

In the Gospel of John, the evangelist tells us of another encounter (probably later) where there is the conversation between Jesus and Martha at the home of Lazarus right after he (Lazarus) has died. (Jn 11:19-27)

It appears that Martha has grown—spiritually, at least—because she tells Jesus, “even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

Jesus obtains from God everything that is good for us. When we turn to Him and ask for anything, He turns to God the Father with the prayer, and God delivers what we most need. God knows what is good for us and is sure to deliver it through Jesus Christ.

This is one of the reasons that we, like Martha, are admonished to ask for everything that we need through Jesus Christ. Sometimes we ask His Mother, which, for all intents and purposes is the same as asking Him, because she holds nothing back from Him. But the truth of the matter is that Jesus receives all prayers, all requests, all petitions, and He lovingly brings them to the Father.

Jesus is our brother and Lord. He is the Son of God and nothing that Jesus asks for from Him can be denied. Even so, today as you pray, remember to ask Jesus for what you need - - not for what you want - - but for what you must have to make it through the day. Jesus will obtain all for you.