Choosing the Better Part

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, challenge us to contemplate the meaning of Jesus as the resurrection and the life to our journey today.

Contemplate our Action

The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah proclaims Jeremiah’s Complaint

i. [15:10] Jer 20:14.

l. [15:17] Ps 25:4.

m. [15:18] Jer 14:19; 30:15.

n. [15:20] Jer 1:18; 6:27. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 59 presents a prayer for vindication.

* [Psalm 59] A lament in two parts (Ps 59:2–9, 11b–17), each ending in a refrain (Ps 59:10, 18). Both parts alternate prayer for vindication (Ps 59:2–3, 4b–5, 11b–14) with vivid depictions of the psalmist’s enemies (Ps 59:4–5a, 7–8, 15–16). The near curse in Ps 59:12–13 is not a crude desire for revenge but a wish that God’s just rule over human affairs be recognized now. (Psalms, PSALM 59 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John begins the presentation of the narrative of the raising of Lazarus.

* [11:1–44] The raising of Lazarus, the longest continuous narrative in John outside of the passion account, is the climax of the signs. It leads directly to the decision of the Sanhedrin to kill Jesus. The theme of life predominates. Lazarus is a token of the real life that Jesus dead and raised will give to all who believe in him. Johannine irony is found in the fact that Jesus’ gift of life leads to his own death. The story is not found in the synoptics, but cf. Mk 5:21 and parallels; Lk 7:11–17. There are also parallels between this story and Luke’s parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus (Lk 16:19–31). In both a man named Lazarus dies; in Luke, there is a request that he return to convince his contemporaries of the need for faith and repentance, while in John, Lazarus does return and some believe but others do not. (John, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus proclaims the faith of Martha and Mary

* [10:38–42] The story of Martha and Mary further illustrates the importance of hearing the words of the teacher and the concern with women in Luke.

* [10:39] Sat beside the Lord at his feet: it is remarkable for first-century Palestinian Judaism that a woman would assume the posture of a disciple at the master’s feet (see also Lk 8:35; Acts 22:3), and it reveals a characteristic attitude of Jesus toward women in this gospel (see Lk 8:2–3).

* [10:42] There is need of only one thing: some ancient versions read, “there is need of few things”; another important, although probably inferior, reading found in some manuscripts is, “there is need of few things, or of one.” (Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Gladyce Janky that in the Ignatian tradition, Jesus’ words to Martha are at the heart of the Principle and Foundation: we are created to praise, reverence, and serve God, and everything else in our lives exists to help us toward that end.

When responsibilities, fears, or other distractions begin to pull us away from that purpose, Ignatius calls these disordered attachments—not “bad things,” but good things that have taken precedence over our relationship with God. Martha’s anxiety is not a failure to live up to Jesus’ expectations; it is the human experience of what happens when we overextend ourselves, or we become discouraged and feel hopeless as we witness the injustices of this world. Jesus’ gentle naming of her negative emotions is an invitation to seek interior freedom and ask for the grace to let go of what drains life. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Release your grip on your worries and concerns. You do not need to control outcomes. You have only one responsibility. That is, to hold everything lightly so there is room in your heart to trust me. Recall that everything in existence is already in my Father’s loving hands.” (Janky, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes The Body of Christ needs hearers and doers of the Word, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"'Virtue does not have a single form. In the example of Martha and Mary, there is added the busy devotion of the one and the pious attention of the other to the Word of God, which, if it agrees with faith, is preferred even to the very works, as it is written: 'Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.' So let us also strive to have what no one can take away from us, so that not careless but diligent hearing may be granted to us. For even the seeds of the heavenly Word itself are likely to be taken away if they are sowed by the wayside (Luke 8:5,12). Let the desire for wisdom lead you as it did Mary. It is a greater and more perfect work. Do not let service divert the knowledge of the heavenly Word... Nor is Martha rebuked in her good serving, but Mary is preferred because she has chosen the better part for herself, for Jesus abounds with many blessings and bestows many gifts. And therefore the wiser chooses what she perceives as foremost."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.83-86) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects that Jeremiah was called to be a prophet when young and to condemn the infidelity of the people who blamed him for their trouble and he felt abandoned by God. He calls God to task as he couldn’t hold God’s words within yet he gets rejected. God replies not one can defeat you, God will always be there. Like in revelation we are killed but we never will be harmed. The Gospel of John presents the story of Martha meeting Jesus and commenting “Lord my brother would not have died”  This was a rebuke of Jesus' delay and set the stage as Lazarus would be raised to present the miracle of life giving and pulling back faith like ours. Jesus proclaims “I am the resurrection and the life.” Know Jesus and know the full life in a realized eschatology often expressed in this Gospel. Heaven is dawning upon the earth and how much we love is the measure. Martha proclaims that faith Jesus is the Messiah. Friar Jude notes that in the Gospel of John women are often exemplars of faith.

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 11:19-27 comments that family life is not always picture-perfect, but if everyone tries to come together in faith, despite their differences, each member can grow in love, both for the Lord and for each other. We know that sometimes it is hard to get all family members to work together, but God can take even the most halting effort and bless it.

Let’s take today’s feast as an opportunity to pray for all families, including our own. May we all take strides to grow closer to each other. May we all take strides to grow closer to the Lord together. And most important, may we all welcome Jesus into our homes and invite him to live with us, just as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus did.

“Lord, be with every family, and help them embrace their calling!” (Meditation on John 11:19-27, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Dr. Richard Beck who acknowledges the temptation to oversimplify our reading of the Bible, but urges us to stay with the tensions it raises.

Let me suggest we emulate how Jesus read the Bible. Let’s imitate how he resolved the tensions in the Old Testament.

For example, the debates between Jesus and the Pharisees concerned the tensions … between the Torah and the prophets. You see this especially in Jesus’s Sabbath observance and his welcoming of sinners. Over and over again in­ these cases, the Pharisees pick Leviticus over the prophets. Ritual purity was chosen over ­human compassion. Jesus, by contrast, privileges the prophets. For Jesus, alleviating human suffering takes priority over Levitical prohibition. Overcoming social marginalization is preferred to religious purity. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to foster a practice of encounter with the Word of God that guides us to choose the better part as we seek to live out our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

References

Janky, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection July 29, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-29-2026 

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/15?10 

John, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/11? 

Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?38 

Meditation on John 11:19-27. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/29/1634783/ 

Psalms, PSALM 59 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/59?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 29, 2026, fromhttps://cac.org/daily-meditations/choosing-mercy-not-sacrifice/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Are Anxious - One Thing Is Needful. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 29, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Good and Faithful Service

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today that present overcoming fear as disciples of Christ, resonate with our marking of the death of Pope Francis and celebration of the love and care that characterized his Pontificate.

Remembering a Good and Faithful Servant

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter addresses the Crowd at Pentecost.

* [2:1–41] Luke’s pentecostal narrative consists of an introduction (Acts 2:1–13), a speech ascribed to Peter declaring the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic significance (Acts 2:14–36), and a favorable response from the audience (Acts 2:37–41). It is likely that the narrative telescopes events that took place over a period of time and on a less dramatic scale. The Twelve were not originally in a position to proclaim publicly the messianic office of Jesus without incurring immediate reprisal from those religious authorities in Jerusalem who had brought about Jesus’ death precisely to stem the rising tide in his favor. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 16 is a Song of Trust and Security in God.

* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6and th). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11). (Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the encounter with Mary Magdalene and the report of the Guard.

* [28:8] Contrast Mk 16:8 where the women in their fear “said nothing to anyone.”

* [28:9–10] Although these verses are peculiar to Matthew, there are similarities between them and John’s account of the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:17). In both there is a touching of Jesus’ body, and a command of Jesus to bear a message to his disciples, designated as his brothers. Matthew may have drawn upon a tradition that appears in a different form in John. Jesus’ words to the women are mainly a repetition of those of the angel (Mt 28:5a, 7b).

* [28:11–15] This account indicates that the dispute between Christians and Jews about the empty tomb was not whether the tomb was empty but why. (Matthew, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB, n.d.)

Larry Gillick, S.J. comments The Church these past two days have been doing lots of prayerful singing. The two Mary’s go off humming, “How can I keep from singing”. The guards spend their money and lives humming “Within the sound of silence”.

So here’s our Eastering. The invitation is clear, keep singing, keep wondering, keep living without clear explanations and ego-centered demands to know. We too have the option to keep Jesus in the tomb of our fears, “not being enough, what will people say, will I be successful.”

The guards lived in the silence of fear and yet wonder about what really happened back there. Easter Monday is a very good day to be untombed and freed from various forms of silence and perhaps shame. Jesus rises every time we speak with words and gestures of the love and freedom outside our tombs. (Gillick, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “The Easter Alleluia,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Our thoughts in this present life should turn on the praise of God, because it is in praising God that we shall rejoice for ever in the life to come; and no one can be ready for the next life unless he trains himself for it now. So we praise God during our earthly life, and at the same time we make our petitions to him. Our praise is expressed with joy, our petitions with yearning. We have been promised something we do not yet possess, and because the promise was made by one who keeps his word, we trust him and are glad; but insofar as possession is delayed, we can only long and yearn for it. It is good for us to persevere in longing until we receive what was promised, and yearning is over; then praise alone will remain." (excerpt from commentary on Psalm 148, 1-2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 28:8-15 invites us to notice what happened next: as the women made their way to the disciples, Jesus met them “and greeted them” (Matthew 28:9). How merciful and loving of the Lord! He didn’t just send his message through an angel but appeared to them himself, assuring them that he truly had risen and comforting them with his presence. Then he spoke directly to their fears, urging them to “not be afraid” (28:10). Jesus didn’t want the shadow of fear clouding their experience. He wanted them to rejoice!

Is fear, uncertainty, or worry clouding your experience of the resurrection today? Yield it to the Lord. Ask him for the grace to experience more fully the deep-down joy of Easter that he so deeply desires for you.

“Risen Christ, I surrender all my fears to you today. Lord, I want to rejoice in the truth of your resurrection!” (Meditation on Matthew 28:8-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the kerygma teaching of Peter to the crowd on Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles. The four Gospels cite differing numbers of women who went to the Tomb and Matthew has two, the number required in the Law to give witness, even when Jewish rules would not accept the testimony of women. Friar Jude notes the apologia in Matthew that refutes the response of the Jewish authorities to the events surrounding the empty tomb.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches that Jesus’ resurrection is a universal pattern we can trust. Reality rolls through cycles of death and resurrection, death and resurrection, death and resurrection. In the raising up of Jesus, we’re assured that this is the pattern for everything—that we, and anybody who is suffering—is also going to be raised up.

Of course, it’s an act of faith on our side. In our experience, our most cherished people, pets, and even places, fade away—but Jesus is the archetype of the shape of the universe. To believe in Jesus is to believe that all of this is going somewhere and that God is going to make it so. All we have to do is stay on the train, stay on the wave, trusting that by our crucifixions, we would be allowed to fail, fumble and die, and be transformed by grace and by God.  

Easter is the great feast of the triumph of universal grace, the triumph of universal salvation, not just the salvation of the body of Jesus. What we’re talking about creates a people of hope, and a culture of hope that doesn’t slip into cynicism and despair. Easter is saying, we don’t need to go there. Love is going to win. Life is going to win. Grace is going to win. Hallelujah! (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the action on our journey that will proclaim our relationship with Jesus and encourage our faithfulness as we celebrate Pope Francis' Pontificate of love, inclusion, compassion, and mercy.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?14 

Gillick, L. (2025, April 21). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042125.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/28?8 

Meditation on Matthew 28:8-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/21/1259521/ 

Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). An Example for Us All. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-example-for-us-all/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr21