Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother, Lazarus. You can hear people meeting on the street who say, “Yo, brother.” At the book club you might hear the comment, “We are like sisters.” Remember Sister Sledge, “We are Family.” Having brothers and sisters can make all the difference in our place in the world. They offer us support and help. And, as Martha and Mary experience, they matter so much they can break our hearts. We should not overly romaniticize this family portrait. Read any random column from Dear Abby and many of the letters talk about strained relationships among siblings. All of which says that, like anything of value, love in the family requires work. For family love to thrive we must make time for one another, we must accept each other, we must forgive each other, we must help each other. Doing that work is worthwhile because loving relationships provide us the mirror of the life of God whose very identity is relationship as the Trinity.
JULY292023
By Church Staff
