20260729 Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

(Jer 15:10, 16–21; Jn 11:19–27): In You, Everything Is Hope “When I found your words, I devoured them; your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart, because I bear your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” (Jer 15:16) My dear brothers and sisters, today as we celebrate Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus—who walked alongside Jesus, sharing deep spiritual and emotional communion with Him on their path to holiness—these words from Jeremiah 15:16 resonate profoundly within my heart. For we know and believe that welcoming the Lord’s coming is far greater than any pursuit in this world. We long for His word more than any eloquent speech that adorns this earth, knowing that this faith is a blessing that satisfies the deepest prayers and desires of our lives. Even when we wander, searching for our way through the dense forest of human relationships as if traversing pitch-black darkness, or when we sink into the painful mire of having a life woven with sincere love denied—even then, we can never let go of hope. This is because the Lord, who breathes new life into us even at the edge of despair where all seems finalized, is truly present among us. Standing before the scene of death, where everything seemed to have yielded to inescapable despair, the Lord declares to us a promise of unending hope in John 11:23 and 25–26: “Your brother will rise… I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” While the world tries desperately to cling to the thread of hope, saying “it’s not over until it’s over,” the Lord reminds us that even that very end is rendered powerless within His mercy and love. Through His providence, which surpasses our human intellect and understanding, He clearly reveals Himself as “the Lord who fulfills all things.” My dear brothers and sisters, let us reflect on Martha’s confession in verse 27 of today’s Gospel: “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Looking back at the merciful guidance that led us through the bonds of human fellowship, and considering the wonderfully harmonious ways through which He opened a future we could never have planned, let us look to the Lord within the grace of this blessed life that keeps us breathing and living today. And let us pray for the grace to hold deep within our souls a heart of profound gratitude—gratitude for being called to receive with “joy and happiness” His living presence, which continuously speaks to us throughout our entire journey. Amen.