Sister Véronique Thiébaut, RA
‘Jesus loved Martha, and Mary, and Lazarus’: this is what we find in the Gospel story of Lazarus’ resurrection. Marie Eugénie comments on this text, saying: ‘It is the women whom the Gospel names first when it mentions those whom Jesus Christ honoured with a special friendship. ” Indeed, she recognises in this friendship between Martha, Mary, Lazarus and Christ a relationship of “intimacy” in which one could find respect, love, faith and freedom (cf. ME, Chapter of 13 January 1878). She herself recognises Jesus as her true friend, her only friend. She says: “He speaks to you as a friend speaks to a friend; you don’t need to say anything to him, he sees everything, he accepts all offerings” and he knows all intentions... (ME, Intimate Notes, no. 154/12) Today, through this Gospel of Jesus’ friendship, we are invited to stand before him with respect, faith, love and freedom.
When I see Marie Eugénie’s prie-Dieu, I am reminded of the long hours she spent in prayer, silently living out this friendship with Christ. How much must have taken place there, in the silence and intimacy of the heart. She longed to speak to God as one speaks to a friend, with frankness, freedom and sincerity. She invites us to have, with Christ, Martha's simplicity; to dare to go to him with the ardor of our hearts; not to hide ourselves; not to seek anything other than what we are.
In fact, this is what Marie Eugénie loves about Martha: that freedom, that spontaneity, that simplicity, which enables Martha to dare to ask for everything and to dare to say everything to the Lord. Marie Eugénie tells us: “Do you know that Our Lord loves it when you come to him, as to one whom we love and who loves us, with trust and simplicity.” So today, we can take some time to reflect on this deeply moving reality: when everything is falling apart around us, when things become more difficult, we have a sure friend, a unique friend, faithful at all times. Just as Martha, Mary and Lazarus experienced one day in Bethany.
‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,’ and Jesus replied: ‘Whoever believes in me will live. Do you believe this?’ She replied: ‘Yes, Lord, I do believe. You are the Son of God…’ Marie Eugénie said: ‘It is a simple woman, with the fervour of her faith and her love, who makes such a beautiful confession.’ Her character is very similar to that of Saint Peter! Yes, Marie Eugénie truly loves Martha’s ardent faith… A virtue that is becoming rare, she says… So, taking her as our model, our own faith must be all the more alive, all the more ardent.
Let us try to put this into practice this week: let us sit down from time to time to speak with Christ as we speak to a friend. Let us dare to ask for whatever we need along the way, in times of difficulty and in times of joy. And then, let the enthusiasm of our hearts rise up to him, in a magnificent profession of faith.