Daily Readings

Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

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Today's Mass Readings

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth!
a man of strife and contention to all the land!
I neither borrow nor lend,
yet all curse me.
When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart,
Because I bore your name,
O LORD, God of hosts.
I did not sit celebrating
in the circle of merrymakers;
Under the weight of your hand I sat alone
because you filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain continuous,
my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook,
whose waters do not abide!
Thus the LORD answered me:
If you repent, so that I restore you,
in my presence you shall stand;
If you bring forth the precious without the vile,
you shall be my mouthpiece.
Then it shall be they who turn to you,
and you shall not turn to them;
And I will make you toward this people
a solid wall of brass.
Though they fight against you,
they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD.
I will free you from the hand of the wicked,
and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.

Thanks be to God

Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Verse: Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries defend me.
Rescue me from evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men save me.

Response: God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Verse: For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
mighty men come together against me,
Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD.

Response: God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Verse: O my strength! for you I watch;
for you, O God, are my stronghold, 
As for my God, may his mercy go before me;
may he show me the fall of my foes.

Response: God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Verse: But I will sing of your strength
and revel at dawn in your mercy;
You have been my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of distress.

Response: God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Verse: O my strength! your praise will I sing;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
my merciful God!

Response: God is my refuge on the day of distress.

John 8:12
Alleluia, alleluia.

Verse: I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Response: Alleluia, alleluia.

John 11:19-27

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.”

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

ReflectionReflection Guide

Martha was grieving the loss of her brother Lazarus, yet she still went out to meet Jesus. She honestly expressed her sorrow, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Instead of rebuking her, Jesus led her to a deeper hope by declaring, "I am the resurrection and the life." Faith does not mean we will always understand God's timing, but it gives us confidence that He is present even in our darkest moments.

We all experience losses, disappointments, and prayers that seem unanswered. Like Martha, we can bring our questions and our pain to Jesus without fear. He meets us where we are and invites us to trust Him beyond what we can see. The same Lord who called Lazarus to new life continues to offer hope to every heart that believes in Him. Even when the road ahead is uncertain, we can hold on to His promise that life in Him is stronger than death and hope is greater than despair.