Tuesday– Feast of St. Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Gospel – John 11:19-27, Luke 10:38-42
Family Matters
Papal Mass, Edmonton July 2022
You will pardon me if I reflect on where I was 3 years ago this week! Those 7 days in July still remain a bit of a blur! On that Wednesday I headed to Louisiana for a 4-day Tekakwitha Conference, an annual gathering of Native Catholic communities in the US and Canada. Because of COVID, it was the first opportunity to gather in person in the past 3 years. Needless to say, it was a wonderful chance to reconnect with old friends and to forge new bonds for the future.
We returned from the conference late on Sunday night, just before midnight. And then I headed right back to O’Hare 5 hours later to fly out to Edmonton Alberta to attend Pope Francis’ Mass of Healing and Reconciliation for the Native Peoples in memory of the tragedy of the Residential Schools. And then I returned home late the following Wednesday. Needless to say, I was glad to be home!
But while there were workshops and meetings and liturgies at each location, one overall theme remained - we were gathering as a family. I gathered with my native family in Louisiana and then with thousands of my religious and spiritual families in Edmonton for Mass with Pope Francis.
I think that is what today is all about! We celebrate today the Feast of Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus – a family! We hear in today’s Gospel the story of the death of Lazarus and the heart-wrenching emotions of his sisters Mary and Martha. Martha talks with Jesus; Mary is so distraught that she can’t even leave her home. It was only 2 Sundays ago that we heard the story of the 2 sisters hosting a dinner for Jesus and it did not go well. Martha is upset that Mary spends her time listening to Jesus and never lifting a finger to help Martha prepare the meal. And then Jesus has to remind Martha that His message is ultimately more important than a simple meal.
It is a reminder to all of us that all these interactions are what family is all about – moments of joy and peace, moments of sadness and loss and yes even moments of anger and hurt. We don’t always get along, we fight, and we argue. But most of all and through it all – we comfort each other! We support each other! We love each other!
When I was at the Kateri Tekakwitha Conference, I picked up lunch at the hotel café. The high school girl behind the counter was completely on her own. She did everything – she took orders, prepped and cooked the meals, served them, ran the cash register and she bused tables. And throughout my lunch, I watched her manage that heavy load with such grace and calmness, never getting frazzled or upset with customers who complained about the wait. Definitely NOT a Martha moment! When I finished my lunch, I made a point to go up to the counter, give her a big tip and an even bigger thank you for all that she was tasked to do. You should have seen the smile on her face – she was literally beaming!
When we were leaving for the Papal Mass the following Wednesday, I found myself on the elevator with a Native elder. I asked if he was going to the Mass and his response was brief and heartfelt – Yes, unfortunately! We proceeded to have a long conversation about the abuse and pain that tens of thousands of Native children experienced in the Residential schools in Canada and US. Thousands of them died in those schools and we are continuing to find the forgotten graves of thousands of those children. His hurt and anger were evident not only in his words but in his eyes and his willingness to share his pain.
I think today’s Gospel and both of those encounters serve as a reminder that ‘family’ goes way beyond blood and marriage. That we all share pain and joy, smiles and tears! That we are all brothers and sisters in faith and in reality! That we are all one family! Saying a simple thank-you to someone or having a conversation with another may not seem all that important until you realize the effect it has when we come to the realization that we are all family!
It reminds me of the lyrics of a song I’ve been playing nonstop lately!
We don't need to be related to
relate
We don't need to share genes or a surname
You are, you are
My chosen, chosen family
So what if we don't look thе same?
We’ve been going through the samе thing, the same pain
You are, you are
My chosen, chosen family
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