17th Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Monday 29th July 2024

“I am the resurrection and the life…do you believe this?” Martha’s “Yes” joins the handful of women whose encounters with the Lord are recorded by the evangelists in the Gospels. These women include Mary, the sister of Martha, as well as Mary of Magdala, the Samaritan woman at the well, the Syrophoenician woman, the woman caught in adultery and the woman who was cured of her bleeding. There are others whom Jesus ministered to but their words were not recorded.

In the patriarchal world of 1st century Israel, women counted as insignificant in society. They had little social rights, political voice, or religious status. For them to get mentioned in the Gospels testifies to Jesus’ awareness of their plight as one of the biggest marginalised social groups whose enormous contribution was not formally recognised. Yet, it is to them that Jesus made most of His greatest self-revelations, as we note in His declaration to Martha.

For us disciples of the 21st century, we may not encounter Jesus in person but we encounter His real presence in the Holy Eucharist and in our daily encounters with everyone we meet. To receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist, profess our faith like Martha, convinced that “even now, whatever we ask of God, He will grant us.” Thus believing, we pray:

Lord, You raised Martha and others to be convincing witnesses, help us always to encounter You in those who conduct their roles with humility.