perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick. So the
sisters sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” On hearing
this, Jesus said, “This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God’s glory, and
the Son of God will be glorified through it.” It is a fact that Jesus loved Martha
and her sister and Lazarus; yet, after he heard of the illness of Lazarus, he stayed
two days longer in the place where he was. Only then did he say to his disciples,
“Let us go into Judea again.”

After that, Jesus said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am
going to wake him up.” The disciples replied, “Lord, a sick person who sleeps will
recover.” But Jesus had referred to Lazarus’ death, while they thought that he had
meant the repose of sleep. So Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead; and for your
sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Then Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that
we may die with him.” When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to
meet him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “If you
had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever you ask
from God, God will give you.” Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha
replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.” But Jesus said
to her, “I am the resurrection. Whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live.
Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha then
answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
he who is coming into the world.” After that, Martha went and called her sister Mary
secretly, saying, “The Master is here and is calling for you.”

As soon as Mary heard this, she rose and went to him. Jesus had not yet come
into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. The Jews,
who were with Mary in the house consoling her, also came. When they saw her
get up and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb
to weep. When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell
at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have
died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping, who had come
with her, he was moved to the depths of his spirit and troubled. Then he asked,
“Where have you laid him?” They answered, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.
Jesus, again deeply moved, drew near to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone
laid across the entrance. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.”

READ: Through Ezekiel, God promises to redeem his people from exile and death. Paul
assures the Romans that those in whom the Spirit dwells will be raised from the dead.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus demonstrates his power over death, raising Lazarus from the
tomb and restoring him to his sisters.

REFLECT: I often wonder how Martha and Mary must have felt. They considered Jesus
a dear friend. He had frequently enjoyed their hospitality. The Gospel even tells us that
he loved them. Yet despite all the people that Jesus had healed, when they sent him a
plea for help, he didn’t respond until it was too late. Still, their faith is not shaken. Even
though they realize that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus from dying, they trust that
Jesus can bring good from the situation. They affirm that Jesus is the Messiah and that
he has power over death. This string faith, in spite of their grief, is an example to all of
us who struggle to understand our pain and suffering. God will redeem our pain and
restore us to wholeness.

PRAY: Lord, help me to have the faith of Martha and Mary, trusting in your power to save.

ACT: Visit a cemetery or pray for the souls of those who have no one to pray for them.