On this fifth Sunday in Lent our Gospel focuses on the raising of Lazarus and the deeper meaning of this action of Jesus. While the tendency might be to focus attention on the “miracle” of Lazarus being brought back to life, there is another part of this beautiful story we might focus on: the love beneath and surrounding this “miracle.” The illness and death of Lazarus brings Jesus to the scene of a reality so familiar to all of us, confronting disease and death, as well as sadness and grief: an essential part of our human condition.
Lazarus and Martha and Mary are dear and beloved friends of Jesus. And amid of the reflections on the power of God to restore life and the meaning of resurrection, what is revealed is the deep love of Jesus in the face of our bereavement, our keen sense of powerlessness, even our sense of the absence of God in those moments. As he gathers at the tomb with his dear friends, he shares their deep grief. And he weeps. What seems to be most obvious to the onlookers and fellow mourners is how much he loved Lazarus, how much he shared the sorrow of Mary and Martha.
Jesus will soon confront the reality of his own death, his own gift of self on the Cross. As we witness his love and his deep feelings for Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, we are invited to deepen our love and trust in the One who has come to bring us life to the full—and to accompany him with our own love and compassion on his journey to Jerusalem.
Len Kraus, S.J.
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