St. Martha
Feast Day: July 29
Jesus is coming to dinner.
Martha is cooking, cleaning, setting the table, and doing everything at once.
Her sister Mary is sitting on the floor listening to Jesus.
Not helping.
At all.
Anyone who has ever hosted a holiday dinner knows exactly how Martha felt.
St. Martha, pray for us.
A Friend of Jesus
Martha lived in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, with her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus.
The Gospel of John says something beautiful about them:
“Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary, and Lazarus” (John 11:5).
Their home was a place where Jesus could rest and be among friends.
“Martha, Martha”
St. Luke tells the famous story:
“But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? speak to her therefore, that she help me.”
— Luke 10:40
Jesus answered gently:
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
— Luke 10:41–42
Jesus was not saying Martha’s work was bad.
He was saying that being with Him matters most.
Even good work can crowd out the One we are working for.
Martha’s Great Confession
Some time later, Lazarus became sick and died.
When Jesus finally arrived, Martha ran out to meet Him.
“Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
— John 11:21
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
And Martha made one of the greatest professions of faith in the Gospels:
“Yea, Lord, I have believed that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, who art come into this world.”
— John 11:27
Then Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
Serving Again
Shortly before His Passion, Jesus came to Bethany again for dinner.
John notes simply: “and Martha served” (John 12:2).
Martha had not stopped serving.
But now she served with her eyes on Jesus.
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
In 2021, Pope Francis added Mary and Lazarus to this day, so the Church now celebrates the three siblings of Bethany together on July 29.
Patron of Cooks and Servers
St. Martha is the patron saint of cooks, homemakers, servers, and hospitality workers.
What St. Martha Teaches Us
Martha teaches us that work and prayer belong together.
Serving others is good.
But it should flow from time spent with Jesus.
She also teaches us to bring our frustration honestly to God, and to trust Him even in grief.
When Is the Feast of St. Martha?
The Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus on July 29.
Prayer Inspired by St. Martha
Lord Jesus Christ,
You loved Martha and welcomed her service and her faith.
When we are anxious and troubled about many things,
call us back to the one thing necessary.
Bless all who cook, clean, and serve others,
and make our homes places where You are welcome.
St. Martha, pray for us. Amen.
