Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 29, 2026
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary
to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
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 of God,
God will give you.”
Jesus said to her,
“Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
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.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
Faith. The relevant definition from Merriam-Webster is: “belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” But the concept of faith can seem amorphous until we see it practiced in the gospels and, perhaps more importantly, in our everyday lives. Martha had faith. And her faith was rewarded (spoiler alert: Lazarus actually did rise). My family had faith that my nephew’s third open-heart surgery last month would be successful. And our faith was rewarded.
But what of those who continue to have faith even when that faith doesn’t appear to be rewarded? I regularly work at the southern border, giving legal guidance to migrants fleeing senseless violence experienced on account of their religion, race, nationality, or politics.
Many have traveled hundreds of miles through or across dangerous jungles, deserts, and rivers after leaving their homes and families behind. Most have been kidnapped, robbed, or worse on their way to the United States, only to be detained here, where conditions can be inhumane and their very humanity rejected. Despite these experiences, after receiving my advice on the challenges of our legal system and the likelihood they won’t be granted asylum, most refugees inevitably finger their plastic rosary beads and respond that they put their faith in God. And that faith gives them hope.
So, heartened by the trust in God shown by the most marginalized, I begin this day as I do every other. With the guidance of Father Hesburgh, I say, “Come, Holy Spirit,” strengthen my faith and fill me with hope!
Prayer
The sting of death is as sharp as it is crushing. We weep with Martha and Mary at the death of our loved ones, upon hearing of the horrors of war and of senseless violence. Through our tears we also profess with Martha, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Jesus, fill us with the hope that allowed Martha to make this powerful statement of faith. In you is our life and we believe in you, so that even if we die, we will live. Amen.
Saint of the Day
The Gospel of John tells us that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (11:5)—these three siblings were close friends of Jesus, and he relied on them for support.
They lived in Bethany, a small town two miles outside of Jerusalem. When Jesus began preaching throughout Judea, he would stop at their house for rest during his travels. Scripture mentions Jesus stopping at their house in three different accounts.
Martha was the oldest of these three siblings and appears to have been in charge of the household. She is the main character in the famous story of Jesus’ visit when Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to him teach, while Martha works away in the kitchen. Martha gets exasperated that she’s the only one attending to the household work and complains to Jesus.
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me,” Martha says. He comforts her and encourages patience, saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Lk 10:38-42).
Later, we see how well Martha learned this lesson from Jesus—that the only important thing is to cling to the Lord. When her brother, Lazarus, died, she placed her trust in Jesus.
When Jesus arrived at Lazarus’ tomb, he told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone 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 Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world” (John 11:25-27).
Martha is depicted in these stained glass windows inside the Basilica, where she holds a cooking pot and offers hospitality to Jesus. She is the patron saint of cooks and kitchen staff, and her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Martha, patron saint of cooks, and the hospitable friend of Jesus who was busy with many things, pray for us!