Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Jesus gives us what we need, when we need it, and in the way we need it.
Jesus receives word that His dear friend Lazarus is gravely ill. Does He rush to his side, as He had done for so many others? No. This time, He waits. In fact, He waits until Lazarus has died.
To us, that almost feels cruel. We can hear the pain in Martha’s voice: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Why would Jesus stay away at such a moment? Why not go immediately to comfort His friend and his grieving sisters?
He stayed away out of love.
Jesus knew that something greater was about to unfold. In order to reveal His power over death — in order to lead people to true belief — Lazarus had to die. Only then could Jesus call him back to life. Only then could He show that the Kingdom of God had truly come, and that He is the Savior of the world. He would prove that whoever believes in Him, even if they die, will live.
The scene at the tomb was deeply moving. Jesus stood before the grave as the very Word of God. Remember: it was the Word who spoke into the chaos at creation and said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. That same Word, now made flesh, spoke into the darkness of the tomb—“Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus walked out.
Lazarus would die (again) one day, like we all will die someday. But for that moment in time, Jesus showed that he had power over death. Jesus would show that his power over death was definitive when he rose from the grave on Easter Sunday, never to go back into it again.
Those who witnessed this great miracle of Jesus began to believe in him, not as a prophet, not as a teacher, but as the Lord of life.
Sometimes Jesus can seem absent from us — just as He seemed absent to Martha and Mary. We may ask: Why does He not answer our prayers immediately? Why is He not here?
Perhaps He is preparing something deeper within us. Perhaps He is enlarging our hearts so we can receive His love more fully. Perhaps He is strengthening our faith.
Whatever He is doing, and for whatever reason He may have, we trust that He is at work among us. Just wait and see. God is working great things among us — have faith. Someday we will rise from the dead, never to go back into the grave.
As Saint Paul wrote in our second reading today: “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.” The Spirit we received in baptism is the Spirit of God who lives in us now. We have been given a great gift by God!
Have a blessed week everyone.