{"id":218388,"date":"2026-07-29T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/?p=218388"},"modified":"2026-07-06T17:07:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:07:57","slug":"santa-marta-de-betania-29-de-julio-testimonio-fe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/santa-marta-de-betania-29-de-julio-testimonio-fe\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint Martha: Friend of Jesus and Witness to the Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Few figures in the Gospel have such an endearing and approachable presence as <strong>Saint Martha of Bethany<\/strong>, sister of Mary and Lazarus. Her name evokes hospitality, service, courageous faith, and a close friendship with <a href=\"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/la-figura-historica-de-jesus-de-nazaret\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/la-figura-historica-de-jesus-de-nazaret\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jesus of Nazareth<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His feast day is celebrated on <strong>July 29<\/strong>, and the Church venerates her as <strong>patron saint of hosts, homemakers, cooks, and servers<\/strong>, but her testimony goes far beyond the domestic sphere: <strong>She is a woman who taught us to welcome Christ into our daily lives and to profess a steadfast faith even in the midst of suffering<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"marta-de-betania-la-que-recibe-a-jesus-en-su-casa\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Martha of Bethany welcomes Jesus into her home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The character of Marta first appears in <strong>Luke 10:38\u201342<\/strong>, in one of the most memorable episodes in the Gospel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Marta, you seem restless and worried | The Chosen | Episode 405\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/U7ciEvQRwqg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00abA woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord\u2019s feet and listened to his words. Martha, on the other hand, was busy with many chores.\u00bb.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This passage has traditionally been interpreted as a <strong>the contrast between the active life (Martha) and the contemplative life (Mary)<\/strong>. Jesus does not rebuke Martha for her service, but for her excessive worry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00abMartha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things; but there is a need for only a few\u2014or rather, just one.\u00bb.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With these words, Jesus <strong>Don't look down on Marta's work<\/strong>, but rather reminds him that <strong>Service only makes sense if it is centered on Him<\/strong>. The Christian life is not just about doing, but about <strong>to be with Him<\/strong>. Marta, like many of us, runs the risk of becoming overwhelmed even when doing good things. Jesus invites her to focus on what is essential: <strong>the presence of God visiting your home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"santa-marta-la-mujer-de-fe-firme\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saint Martha, the Woman of Unwavering Faith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marta's second major appearance is in the <strong>Gospel of Saint John, Chapter 11<\/strong>, during the resurrection of her brother Lazarus. Here, another side of this woman is revealed: <strong>her deep faith in Jesus, even in the midst of suffering<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lazarus has died. Jesus arrives late. Martha goes out to meet the Teacher and says to him, \u00abLord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will grant you\u00bb (Jn 11:21\u201322).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is one of the <strong>the most powerful professions of faith in the entire Gospel<\/strong>: \u00abI am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Martha replied, \u00abYes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world\u00bb (John 11:27).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this moment, Marta becomes <strong>a witness and confessor of the faith, on a par with Peter at Caesarea of Philip<\/strong>. His assertion does not stem from theory or contemplation, but rather from the <strong>the experience of suffering and love<\/strong>. It is a faith that has wept, but has not been broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"maria-la-que-eligio-la-mejor-parte\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mary: The One Who Chose the Better Part<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mary, on the other hand, sits at Jesus\u2019 feet and listens to him. In the Jewish context, that posture was equivalent to that of a disciple before his teacher. Mary represents the <strong>contemplative life<\/strong>, deep listening, prayer. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (nos. 2709\u20132719) teaches, prayer begins in the silence of the one who sits down to receive the Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This complementarity between Martha and Mary does not pit two vocations against each other, but rather unites them. Both are necessary. As St. Augustine said: \u201cMartha worked, Mary feasted; both served the Lord, each in her own way.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"marta-una-santa-que-ensena-a-vivir-la-fe-concreta\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marta, a saint who teaches us how to live out our faith in practical ways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marta is not some abstract, \u201cspiritualized\u201d saint. She is a woman who lives her everyday life: <strong>cleans, cooks, organizes, takes care of<\/strong>. And from there, <strong>He practices theology through his actions and words<\/strong>. She is a woman who <strong>welcomes Jesus into her home<\/strong>, and that also <strong>He confesses Him as the Son of God<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christian tradition has associated it with the <strong>biblical hospitality<\/strong>, that virtue which is not merely courtesy, but <strong>welcomed by God Himself<\/strong>. In Martha, the words of the author of the Letter to the Hebrews are fulfilled:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00abDo not neglect to show hospitality to one another, for by so doing some have, without knowing it, shown hospitality to angels\u00bb (Heb 13:2).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"una-discipula-segunda-al-contrario-modelo-de-entrega\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A 'second-rate' disciple? On the contrary: a model of dedication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, because of the contrast with Mary, Martha has been portrayed as the less \u201cspiritual\u201d of the two sisters. But the Church does not share this oversimplified view. In fact, <strong>Marta and Mar\u00eda complement each other<\/strong>. As St. Augustine would say, <strong>\u201cMary chose the better part at that particular moment, but Martha also chose a good part.\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20250718_1133_Jesus-en-Betania_simple_compose_01k0ee133heqp8zpjyg4fkpv59.webp\" alt=\"Jes\u00fas sentado junto a una ventana en una casa de piedra, hablando con serenidad. Frente a \u00c9l, Mar\u00eda escucha sentada a sus pies, en actitud contemplativa. Al fondo, Marta de Betania trabaja preparando pan sobre una mesa, con expresi\u00f3n de concentraci\u00f3n. La escena est\u00e1 ambientada en el siglo I, con luz c\u00e1lida entrando por la ventana y jarras de barro decorando la estancia.\" class=\"wp-image-218389\" style=\"width:743px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20250718_1133_Jesus-en-Betania_simple_compose_01k0ee133heqp8zpjyg4fkpv59.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20250718_1133_Jesus-en-Betania_simple_compose_01k0ee133heqp8zpjyg4fkpv59-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20250718_1133_Jesus-en-Betania_simple_compose_01k0ee133heqp8zpjyg4fkpv59-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20250718_1133_Jesus-en-Betania_simple_compose_01k0ee133heqp8zpjyg4fkpv59-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20250718_1133_Jesus-en-Betania_simple_compose_01k0ee133heqp8zpjyg4fkpv59-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jesus visits his friends in Bethany. Mary and Lazarus listen. Martha serves. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both sisters represent <strong>Two Ways to Love the Lord<\/strong>, which must be integrated. <strong>Listening and Service<\/strong>, <strong>contemplation and action<\/strong>. Martha not only welcomes Jesus into her home, but she also recognizes him in the midst of her pain, at her most difficult moment. Her service is not superficial: it is filled with faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"santa-marta-en-la-tradicion-cristiana\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saint Martha in Christian Tradition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Liturgia_de_las_horas\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/universalis.com\/Latin\/20240729\/today.htm\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Liturgy of the Hours<\/a><\/strong> It describes her as \u201ca woman of faith who witnessed Jesus\u201d power over death.\u201d In many commentaries by the saints, Martha is a symbol of those <strong>who serve Christ in the practical realities of daily life<\/strong>, and who recognize it in their brothers and sisters, in the home, and in suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">St. Teresa of Jesus felt great affection for Martha. In her letters, she writes that she did not feel called to a purely contemplative life, but rather \u201cto a life like Martha\u2019s, who also attained holiness among the pots and pans.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Provence (France), a devotional tradition\u2014though not biblical\u2014says that <strong>Martha evangelized the region after Christ's Ascension<\/strong>, and that even <strong>He defeated a dragon named the Tarasca with the cross<\/strong>. It is a symbolic way of speaking about his spiritual power: through his faith, he overcame evil and paved the way for the Gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"marta-nuestra-hermana-en-el-camino-de-la-fe\"><strong>Sister on the Path of Faith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, many Christians feel like Martha: busy, restless, juggling a thousand things at once. Work, family, problems. Sometimes, we feel trapped in our daily routine and far from contemplation. But the Gospel doesn\u2019t tell us that Martha was wrong to serve; rather, it says that <strong>Service requires inner silence and the presence of God<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marta teaches us how to <strong>to serve without losing sight of Jesus<\/strong>, to <strong>to love through concrete actions<\/strong>, and to <strong>to have faith even when all seems lost<\/strong>. Their faith in the resurrection does not stem from comfort, but from their certainty in the word of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He is also an important figure for the <strong>A Synodal and Servant Church<\/strong>: She welcomes, listens, and takes action. She is not passive; she does not silence her pain or hide her doubts. She is direct, firm, and a person of faith. She is a disciple and a friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"conclusion-marta-la-mujer-que-dijo-si-sirviendo\"><strong>The Woman Who Said Yes, Through Service<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Santa Marta de Betania, we find <strong>a real woman, in the flesh<\/strong>, with her struggles and her love. A woman who <strong>He loved with his hands and with his heart<\/strong>which <strong>welcomed Jesus and proclaimed him as Lord<\/strong>which <strong>He did not succumb to death, but waited for the resurrection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She is the patron saint of those who serve, those who suffer, those who believe, and those who hope. And also of those who need to remember that <strong>Christ is the only one we need<\/strong>. She welcomed Him into her home. We, too, can welcome Him every day if we make our lives a home for God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h4><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/h4><nav><div><div class=\"\"><a href=\"#marta-de-betania-la-que-recibe-a-jesus-en-su-casa\">Martha of Bethany welcomes Jesus into her home<\/a><\/div><div class=\"\"><a href=\"#santa-marta-la-mujer-de-fe-firme\">Saint Martha, the Woman of Unwavering Faith<\/a><\/div><div class=\"\"><a href=\"#maria-la-que-eligio-la-mejor-parte\">Mary: The One Who Chose the Better Part<\/a><div><div class=\"\"><a href=\"#marta-una-santa-que-ensena-a-vivir-la-fe-concreta\">Marta, a saint who teaches us how to live out our faith in practical ways<\/a><\/div><div class=\"\"><a href=\"#una-discipula-segunda-al-contrario-modelo-de-entrega\">A 'second-rate' disciple? On the contrary: a model of dedication<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"\"><a href=\"#santa-marta-en-la-tradicion-cristiana\">Saint Martha in Christian Tradition<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saint Martha of Bethany, sister of Mary and Lazarus, is remembered for her hospitality, her faith in Jesus, and a timeless lesson about what is truly essential in the Christian life. Her feast day, July 29, invites us to rediscover the balance between serving and listening to the Lord.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":218391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[287,286,288,10],"class_list":["post-218388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-betania","tag-santa-marta","tag-servicio","tag-vida-de-santos"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218388"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":231203,"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218388\/revisions\/231203"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.fundacioncarf.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}