The family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus were dear friends of Jesus. It seems that He visited and stayed with them regularly. There are two stories in the Gospels that tell us of their encounters with Jesus.
   
There is the story when Jesus was at their home for dinner and the conflict between Martha and Mary regarding the work of hospitality and sitting at the feet of Jesus as He taught.
   
The other story is of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  When Martha sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill, she said “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When Lazarus died, Jesus wept, and people commented on how much Jesus loved him. Clearly, they were close friends. At the end of the story, Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead.  
   
Jesus, like all of us, needed a support system. Certainly, that included His Blessed Mother and the Twelve, but close friends like this family also were a source of comfort, encouragement and love for Him.
   
This Tuesday, July 29, is the feast of Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

St. Ignatius was one of those early theologians of the first through fifth centuries who are known as the Fathers of the Church. He is one of the earliest and is known as one of the Apostolic Fathers, known as such because they knew one or more of the original Twelve. It is believed that Ignatius knew and was mentored by St. Peter. While making his way to Rome, he was working on a set of letters addressing some of the pressing matters of his time. These letters still exist and are part of the much larger collection of writings known as the Works of the Fathers of the Church.
   
Ignatius was martyred around the year 150 AD. The feast of St. Ignatius is Thursday, July 31.