We know about her siblings, and where she lived. We can even see what she might have looked like, as imagined by Jan Vermeer in 1655 (above), but Mary of Bethany is one of the least-known women of the New Testament.
She first appears in Luke 10:38-42, when Jesus visited for dinner, and her sister Martha was annoyed because Mary sat adoringly at Jesus’ feet rather than helping prepare the meal.
In John 11, Mary inspires Jesus to raise brother, Lazarus, from the dead.
Finally, in John 12:1–8, prior to the crucifixion, she anoints Jesus’ feet with costly, perfumed ointment and wipes them with her hair.
There are many more biblical references to Martha and Lazarus, but not of Mary. After the crucifixion, Martha and Lazarus went to southern France with Mary Magdalene in a boat without a sail nor rudder. Also on the journey were Mary Salomé, Mary Jacobé, Maximin, and their Egyptian servant Sara. But why not Mary of Bethany?
Pope Gregory I believed she was the same person as Mary Magdalene (who he thought was a prostitute).
Maybe you could envision Mary more clearly if you actually visited where she lived.
Well, now is your chance, because that’s where our small group of women will be going next February. We’ll travel to Bethany and visit the tomb of Lazarus and the Monastery of Martha and Mary. There is still time for you to join our group, so you can walk through the ancient ruins and meditate with us among the lush olive trees.
Leaders of this women’s Holy Land pilgrimage are Deacon Holly Galgano and Sisters Elizabeth Broyles and Shane Phelan.
Tour dates are February 5 – 17, 2023, and there’s also an optional extension to Jordan that includes Petra, the amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Click Here For Women’s Holy Land tour Details
Photo credit:
Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary: Johannes Vermeer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons