Homily on John 11:19-27 : A Reflection for the Feast of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus ( 29-7-25)

A homily on the deep faith of Martha that teaches us to trust in God’s power and presence, even in the darkest moments of family life: “Even Now” — A Homily for the Feast of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus ( 29-7-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ

There was once a woman who waited at the gate of a government hospital every day. For weeks, she came. Her husband was in a coma after a terrible accident. The doctors told her, “There is no hope.” Still, she would stand by the gate with a rosary in her hand. Someone once asked her, “Why do you come every day? He does not even know you are here.” She answered simply, “Because I know God is here.” After thirty-four days, her husband opened his eyes. The doctors could not explain it. But she only smiled and said, “I always knew, even now God will do something.”

That is the word I want to speak about today — “even now.” These words come from the lips of Martha in John 11. Jesus has come to their house four days after her brother Lazarus has been buried. And Martha says something that reveals the depth of her heart: “Even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

Today is the feast of three friends of Jesus — Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. We often remember Martha as the one busy in the kitchen while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. But today we see a different Martha. A woman who stands beside a grave and still believes. A woman who has suffered loss but not lost her faith. It is easy to believe when the things are fine and smoother but the depth of faith will be manifested in trials and hardships. In her we see a quiet strength, the kind we find in many of our mothers and grandmothers who hold the family together even in tears. They are able to see the God’s hands behind all life events. They could repeatedly believe and proclaim that nothing happens without the knowledge of God. 

The words “even now” are not just words of faith. They are words of family love. This family in Bethany welcomed Jesus into their home. They were not just His followers, they were His friends. And this feast reminds us of something very important — holiness can bloom in a home. Families are the ground that cultivates saints. Jesus knocks in our doors and wait at the door steps waiting the door to be opened…If we are close with Him, he intervenes at the right time as he reached to Martha and Mariam. We do not need to be alone in the desert or in a monastery to be saints. Presence of God transforms a family into Holy Family. A family that prays together, suffers together, and loves together becomes a holy place.

“Even now” proclamation of faith does not ignore pain. It stands inside the pain and still hopes. We are reminded of Job who lost everything but still said, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” We think of Abraham who hoped against hope and believed. We think of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who stood by the Cross and believed in God’s promise even when her Son’s body was lifeless. Challenges are not merely hindrances, in itself has the opportunities to develop our skills and abilities. The great lives who walked before us acquired strength from these challenges. 

Saint Teresa of Avila once said, “God walks among the pots and pans.” This was her way of saying that even in the middle of daily work, daily struggles, and family life, God is present. The family of Bethany reminds us that friendship with Jesus can be deep, real, and part of ordinary life. Their home was a place of welcome. Their table was His resting place. Their sorrow was His sorrow. Their joy became His miracle. 

Sometimes in our homes we face difficulties that make us want to give up. A son who has gone astray. A sickness with no cure. A debt that keeps growing. A silence between husband and wife that feels like a wall. And in those moments we can feel like everything is buried. But Martha teaches us to say with courage — Even now… I believe.

Even now… God can heal.
Even now… love can be rebuilt.
Even now… peace can return.
Even now… the stone can be rolled away.

Even now Let us believe what Isaiah 59:1 states, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear”.

The story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus is not only about a man raised from the dead. It is about a family that never stopped believing. It is about a home that became a temple of faith. We may ran behind different sources for comfort and  consolation, but how often I approach God to share my pain and difficulties. Human hands may not be able to reach us on time but nothing is impossible for God. His reach is beyond human imaginations.

Let us become that home….The temple of Jesus.  Let us carry “even now” faith into our families. Let us open our doors to Jesus again — not just when everything is perfect, but especially when everything seems broken.

Lord, give me the grace to believe even now.

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God Bless…