As For Me and My Household

By: Ivonne J. Hernandez

“Therefore, the Supreme Pontiff Pope FRANCIS, considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, in believing that he is the resurrection and the life, and accepting the proposal of this Dicastery, has decreed that 29 July be designated in the General Roman Calendar as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus.” (DECREE on the Celebration of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus in the General Roman Calendar, 2021)
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Martha, Mary, and Lazarus… three siblings watching us from Heaven, praying for us, rooting for us. Their example is one of simplicity and love; they welcomed Jesus into their home.

“Jesus entered a village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.” (Cf. Luke 10:38)
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I get the impression that Martha might have been the eldest, the head of the household; she represented all of them in welcoming Christ. I remember first hearing the title “Head of Household” when my mom filed her income tax return after my dad passed away. I was very young… interesting to remember such a minor detail. It might have been one of those moments when an abstract concept materializes in one’s mind. More than a simple classification for tax purposes, it defined the new status of my mother in our lives.
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Many people said that, as a widow, my mom had to fulfill the role of both father and mother to us. Yet, I don’t think that is really possible. She was a very busy mom, but she was still just mom; she was not dad. I think well-meaning people did not have the understanding or vocabulary to name that she was a mother and head of household. She had all the previous responsibilities of raising and mothering us, but she was now also our representative. She was legally and spiritually empowered to speak for us. 

 “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)
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​When we got married, my husband and I created a new family and a new home. Over the years, the makeup of our household has changed more than once. There have been years when my mother lived with us. Right now, one of our adult sons has moved out into his own home, yet two young adults still live with us. All three are our sons, but only two are part of our household. Our levels of authority and responsibility are different in each scenario. What does it mean to be the head of the home?

“On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.” (Acts 16:13-15)
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The Lord opened Lydia’s heart. She then spoke for her household, had them all baptized, and invited the Apostles to stay at their home. As a head of household, there is a role of leadership, a responsibility for those under you in the home. And that role looks different when those in your home are children than when they are adults. It looks different for a married couple than a single dad or mom. A good leader serves by helping each household member get with the program, always leading by example, and always leading with love. Before Lydia could bring Christ to her household, she had to first let Him enter her heart… only then would He be welcomed into the home.

What does it mean to welcome Christ into our homes? How do we learn to sit at His feet and listen? How can we prepare to leave the tomb at the sound of His voice?
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Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus pray for us.

Ivonne J. Hernandez

Ivonne is a Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, President of Elisheba House, and author of The Rosary: Eucharistic Meditations. She lives in Trinity, Florida, with her husband, Rick, and their children.