St. Martha: Missionary of Friendship

One

Research shows that Catholics are not active in leading others to Jesus for three reasons: They believe it is not their job; they do not feel competent; and they are indifferent.

We gave the wrong message as a Church for centuries that leading others to Jesus was the job of priests and nuns and professional Church workers. That is not true. Every person who receives the Sacrament of Confirmation has the official authority from the Bishop to evangelize. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are…enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." It is your job and we must give an account to the Lord at our death on what we have done with this gift of Confirmation.

Secondly, you don’t need to be a theologian or Biblical scholar to help people to friendship with Jesus. All you need is to have friendship with Jesus yourself, then be friends with others and through your friendship help them encounter Jesus. If you feel you cant introduce people to Jesus because you don’t know him that well, then I would suggest you work on your friendship with Jesus because you can’t get into heaven, which is eternal friendship with Jesus, until you get it established here.

Two

If you are indifferent, I am sure it is not because you don’t care for souls. It is more likely that you know God is All-Merciful and you assume most people go to heaven. This is dangerous. Jesus said, 'Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

San Nicolas, Argentina from October 13, 1983 to February 11, 1990. Jesus said: Today I warn the world, for the world is not aware: souls are in danger. Many are lost. Few will find salvation unless they accept me as their Savior.

Mary said, “God's warning is over the world. Those who stay in the Lord have nothing to fear, but those who deny what comes from him do. Two-thirds of the world is lost (in danger of rejecting God and Heaven) and the other part must pray and make reparation for the Lord to take pity.

July 25, 2020 Our Lady said at Medjugorje

“Dear children! In this turbulent time in which the devil is harvesting souls to draw them to himself, I am calling you to persevering prayer, so that in prayer you discover the God of love and hope.”

Three

Today is the Feast of St. Martha,

We are familiar with the event of Martha and Mary. Martha is reproved by Jesus because she is worried about so many things while Mary is praised for recognizing the one thing necessary – friendship with Jesus.

But let’s not miss a very important point here, Jesus was in the home of Martha because she invited him and gave him hospitality. And the result was that Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus became some of the best friends of Jesus.

We find Jesus at the house of Martha many times in the Gospel.

Oh, and by the way, it was probably a result of the hospitality and friendship that Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead.

Let’s also not forget, Martha is a Saint.

Hospitality, inviting people into your home to foster friendship through sharing life and good conversation is the most important way to help others to friendship with Jesus.

In fact, your primary mission as a Christian is to – to Make Disciples of All Nations.

Martha is the ultimate missionary, a Missionary of Friendship,

·       because she invited people into her home,

·       gave them hospitality and friendship

·       and then they encountered Jesus and believed in Him.

Four

Concrete Steps

It is not your job to help everyone encounter Jesus.

It is your job to help a few.

Now who?

Ask the Holy Spirit.

Let Him reveal who.

Then pray and offer sacrifices for that person.

Then invite them to share life with you.

·       A meal, a walk, read a book together, watch a game (Hockey resumes every day now, woo hoo).

While you do these things be interested in the other person. Seek to know and understand them.

Find out their view point on all kinds of things.

Then, if the circumstances are right, invite them into your routine of praying the Rosary.

If the circumstances are not right, good conversation is an excellent place to land.

You are not responsible for the conversion of another person,

but you are responsible to take the initiative to foster friendship through hospitality.

What are you going to do concretely?

What is your next right step?

Five

What can we do if our children or friends are not on the right path? Get new ones. Just kidding.

Four powerful things you do:

1.  In John 14:14 Jesus said, If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it. Asking in His name means being of one heart, one will with Jesus. Unite your will to the will of God then He will give you what you ask for.

2.  Pray the Rosary every day for the conversion of family, friends and the whole world. I suggest praying a second and a third Rosary each day. There is great power in the Rosary and Mary will lead you into the Heart of Jesus – the goal of life.

3.  Make of everything a sacrifice and offer it to God for the conversion of those for whom you have concern. Offer your prayer, work, joy and suffering.

4.  Patience. This life in comparison to eternity is very short. Your loved ones may not convert today or tomorrow.

a.  Don’t ruin things by impatiently insisting on your own way – your own time.

b.  You could spoil their conversion by impatience.

c.   Have patience and Hope – Hope is the confident patient expectation that All shall be well in the end.