The Raising of Lazarus

Introduction:
This is a very involved story with layers of meaning spread throughout the text.

First of all, there is the note from the sisters, a simple enough message stating their concern for Lazarus who is sick and their implicit trust that Jesus cares, for they say, “He whom you love is ill.”
When Jesus hears this, he raises the import of the message to a whole new level – the glory of God, but at the same time he anticipates the scene will be full of anguish for him.

Something is going to happen in Bethany that is far beyond the anguish or concern of the sisters and of his friendship with Lazarus; as well, it will place Jesus in a position that seals his fate with the Jewish authorities. But more than that, he will rejoice that his prayer to the Father is heard and the Father’s glory is revealed. “I do always the things that please him.”

It just reminds us that, often enough, even our own daily activities and experiences may have a far deeper meaning than we can ever imagine. It is important to state this for it is true.

Lazarus is dead:
Jesus simply says to his disciples that Lazarus has died, and that he, Jesus, will return to Judea because there is much more to the moment and the story than the death of Lazarus.

The disciples are horrified, and Thomas in a passive aggressive way anticipates his resistance to the belief in the resurrected Jesus by saying, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” He is lacking in hope.

Martha & Mary and the Crowd:
The sisters, even though filled with grief, have a different point of view.

They state that if Jesus had been there Lazarus would not have died, but that doesn’t stop Martha from giving the most elaborate act of faith in Jesus that we probably find the in the whole New Testament: “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day . . . Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

Here, Martha touches into something far beyond her grief at the death of her brother. She touches into the hidden layer of her painful experience. How important it is that we can do that, even in the most painful experiences of our life.

Jesus weeps:
Jesus weeps, not only for the grief of the sisters and of the crowd surrounding them. He weeps for the struggle they experience in handling the arrows and misfortunes of their lives. He yearns that they could have something of the faith and hope of Martha and Mary.

This anguish brings him to prayer, and he prays that the Father be glorified in his raising of Lazarus.
‘Unbind him, and let him go.”

Words that seem so detached from the anguish he has just experienced. But Jesus holds within himself the deep meaning of the story for him.

“Are there not twelve hours in daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.”

Conclusion:
There is a lot in this story for each one of us.

Do I sense that there could be deeper levels of meaning within some of my life experiences that need to be acknowledged, that I dare not miss out on?

This Gospel story beginning with the note from the two sisters can lead me to a deeper reflection on some of the happenings of my life and call forth a faith and a hope that brims with unsuspected life and light?

Frank Gerry SVD