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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Martha does not take her sister with her, because she wants to speak with Christ alone, and tell Him what has happened. When her hopes had been raised by Him, then she went her way, and called Mary.
Cyril of Alexandria
Perhaps Martha was the more eager to do such things as might be necessary; wherefore also she first went and met Him: but Mary was the more intelligent. Wherefore, as possessing a more sensitive soul, she remained at home, receiving the attentions of her consoling friends; but Martha, as a simpler person, started off, intoxicated indeed with her grief, but nevertheless acting with more vigour.
Theophylact of Ohrid
Martha alone goes forward to meet Him, and does not take her sister with her, because she wanted to see Him privately and tell Him about what had happened. But when the Lord aroused good hope in her, then she goes away and calls her sister. Previously she had not told her sister Mary about the Lord's coming in order to hide this from those who were with her. …
Western Saints
Bede
Our Lord had not yet entered the town, when Martha met Him: Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him: but Mary sat still in the house.
Thomas Aquinas
1509 Now the Evangelist describes the sisters: first, Martha; then Mary. He describes Martha in three ways: as going to meet Christ; the devotion she showed to Christ (v 21); and thirdly, the degree of enlightenment to which Christ raised her. 1510 We are told that Martha immediately went to meet Jesus, when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him without delay. …
Bonaventure
Martha therefore, when she heard. Above, two antecedents to the miracle were determined, namely the announcement of the illness and the coming of the Physician: here the third is touched upon, namely the intercession of faith, which indeed merited the raising of Lazarus. This moreover was the faith and devotion of the two sisters, namely Martha and Mary. …
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