Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Martha of Bethany is a biblical figure described in the Gospels of Luke & John. Together with her siblings [Ss.] Lazarus & Mary of Bethany [29 July], she is described as living in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem. She was witness to Jesus resurrecting her brother, Lazarus.Wikipedia-link Bethany
Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:
Lord Jesus, You taught St. Martha a lesson in the true meaning of love. Help me to realize that You have called me to be Your friend & enable me to respond to that call with all my heart, soul, & strength.'Tis also the festival of Saints Lazarus & Mary of Bethany (first century; A.K.A. Lazarus of the Four Days, the Resurrected): Saint-link Lima & Wikipedia-link Lima, & Wikipedia-link Mike.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Sulien, Abbot (sixth century), founding abbot of the abbey which gave rise to the village of Luxulyan: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Luxulyan.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Olaf, Martyr (circa 995-1030, A.K.A. King Olaf II of Norway, Olaf Haraldsson; also spelt Olave, Ólafr Haraldsson), martyred by pagan Vikings, the Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae ["Perpetual King of Norway"]: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Urban II, Pope, O.S.B. (circa 1040-1099; A.K.A. Odo, also spelt Otho, Eudes; of Châtillon, of Lagery), one hundred fifty-ninth (CLIX) Bishop of Rome; who called the Council of Piacenza (1095), the Council of Clermont (1095), & the First Crusade (1096-1099): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontiffs-link & Wikipedia-link Pontiff; Wikipedia-link Piacenza, Wikipedia-link Clermont, Crusade-link, & Wikipedia-link Crusade.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Exodus, chapter thirty-two, verses fifteen thru twenty-four & thirty thru thirty-four;
Psalm One Hundred Six, verses nineteen & twenty, twenty-one & twenty-two, & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eleven, verses nineteen thru twenty-seven;
or, the Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel is the story of Martha and Mary. I’d like to offer a fresh take on this famous little story. One of the principal marks of Jesus’ teaching and ministry is the overturning of social conventions. And one of the most striking and surprising of Jesus’ moves was a radical inclusion of women.Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
While this typically women’s work was going on, men would sit out in the main room of the residence and talk. If a prominent rabbi or Pharisee were present, the men would sit at his feet and listen to his words.
Now we can see why Mary’s attitude was so offensive to Martha and probably to everyone else in the room. Martha wasn’t simply mad that Mary was giving her more work to do; she was mad that Mary had the gall to assume the stance of a man, to take up her position in the men’s space.
In his response to Martha’s complaint, Jesus signals more than a preference for listening over acting; he invites a woman into full participation in the life of discipleship. “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Martha
The First Letter of John, chapter four, verses seven thru sixteen;
Psalm Thirty-four, verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eleven, verses nineteen thru twenty-seven;
or, the Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two.
Scripture Study—Day 91: Progeny Point, Day 1
The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-five, verses seven thru eleven.
Commentary: The Death of Abraham (Genesis, 25:7-11).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Lord Jesus, grant that those You have called Your friends may come to know in fullness the joy You have promised. May they know the joy of praising You, the joy of serving their brothers & sisters, the joy of abiding in Your love."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"When does the soul die? Whenever there is the domination of the lower order over the higher order, whenever there is the domination of the individual over the community, of flesh over the spirit, of time over eternity, of the body over the soul, then there is death and that death we call sin. That is why scripture equates death in the biological order and sin in the moral order: “The wages of sin is death.” If you buy an electric coffee pot, you will find instructions. The instructions may read, “Do not plug this coffee pot in when the pot is empty.” Well, suppose you say, “Why should anybody tell me what to do? He's violating my constitutional rights.” When you say that, you forget that the manufacturer of that coffee pot gave you instructions in order that you might get perfect coffee out of it. Sin is a deliberate violation of the law of God. When God made us he gave us certain laws, not in order to destroy our freedom, but in order that we might perfect ourselves. When we violate those laws, we break a relationship, and we hurt ourselves. That is why in the parable of the prodigal son the father said of the prodigal, “He was dead. Now he is alive.”"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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