Today we see Jesus going back to his very special place—somewhere that he felt at home. The home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus seems to have been his go to place. Just like all of us, he needed space to throw off his sandals and just relax. We will remember well the welcome he was given by Martha, as she worked so hard to prepare a meal fit for a king—while her sister, Mary was content to sit and the feet of the Master, hanging on to his every word. Today, the journey of Jesus is sad. In the midst of busy pastoral ministry that took him to Samaria where he met the woman at the well, and Jerusalem where he gave new sight to the blind man, Jesus is told that his good friend, Lazarus is ill: 'the one you love is sick.' John makes it very clear that Jesus has a unique bond with this family. In spite of all the worries and concerns of his friends, Jesus continues with his special time with his disciples— it is as if these people have learnt nothing from the miracle of sight so vividly presented to us last week. The more they pester him to do something, the more Jesus wants to help them learn from the strength of his ministry.

Jesus calls them to walk in the light, even though he will face pain and rejection in Judea. Even the pain of this illness becomes a chance to move forward and give God the glory—death cannot separate us from the unconditional and deep love that God has for each of us, Lazarus included. It is this deep love that Jesus has for his Bethany friends that propel him into action. When he finally does arrive at the home of his friends, the reality hits the disciples: the illness was so severe that Lazarus has died. In fact, as was the custom, the funeral rite has been completed and he has been placed into the tomb. The conversation between Martha and Jesus is fascinating as her own faith tells her that, had Jesus been there just days earlier, her brother would have been healed. He had brought sight to a blind man and cleansed the lepers, so he would have cured Lazarus. In death, however, Martha faces the daily sadness of millions who lose a loved one. In a sense, she can only see the hopelessness of the situation, while Jesus wants to offer a strong sense of hope. They talk in a theological language that is all well and good, but can never convey the deep personal hurt and emptiness that bereavement brings. As a Church we must walk with everyone who suffer the loss of loved ones—we must share their anger, bitterness, and tears. Our faith may well tell us that they are with a God in heaven, but our hearts know that they are not around to share a birthday, another Christmas, or a special family event.

In her growing faith, Martha has come to realise who her friend actually is: he is the one who can bring true life and happiness in the midst of death and sadness. Jesus tells her plainly:

I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if they die, yet will they live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

Jesus sees death as the gateway to life—yet another way in which we Christians are counter cultural. In the death of Lazarus, we can reflect on all those things that diminish and belittle our world. In death, we see narcissism, jealousy, abuse, and all those things that deny the beauty and life of God. In mourning with Martha over death, Jesus mourns for all those sinful things that bring so much pain in our world. A God of love and life cannot win the war in Ukraine or end global hunger. In our mourning, we must be prompted to bring newness of life—a life that we find with Jesus. We were created to love. That is what Jesus says and that is what the gospel says. Someone who loves you is sick, and Jesus goes to him to heal him. It is the love story of God. God loves us, God cares, God is concerned, so much that He allows His Son to take on the pain of each of us, because only through the Incarnation could the pain of our daily existence be experienced by God Himself.

The tears and pain of Martha and Mary move Jesus to action: he goes to the tomb and order Lazarus to share the fullness of life once more. The command of Jesus is so simple: untie him. Perhaps today, as we move closer to the events of Holy Week, we are called to untie our own lives—the gospel is a call to freedom, to be free of all those things that keep us from living our lives to the full. As we prepare to enter the most sacred week of the year, we will, once again, see the totality of the life that Jesus offers. From washing of feet to sharing Eucharist, from prayer in a Garden to rejection by friends, from a triumphant entry into Jerusalem to a cruel death outside the city walls, from silence in the court of Pontus Pilate to the cry of abandonment on the cross—I pray that this Holy Week tells us far more about the fullness of life than the emptiness of death. Once again let us hear that great cry of Jesus:

Unbind them—let them be free.

Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB

Photo by Pisit Heng on Unsplash