I love today’s Gospel reading of the Raising of Lazarus. When I was in Singapore, I went to a concert by Corrinne May who had a song entitled Lazarus that caught my attention. “Lazarus, come out of your tomb.” The imagery of the song is that everyone thinks Lazarus is dead but Jesus knows he is not and invites him to rejoin life. Perhaps Lazarus felt like he had waited for his friend Jesus too long and could no longer wait. He had given up, unable to get up and move forward. How many times in life do we demand to know where Jesus was and why it took Him so long to come?

Jesus weeps. He weeps for us too when we give up on ourselves and on Him. Christ knows we each have someone who loves us deeply and mourns for those days when we feel dead. There are days when like Martha we complain about it not being good enough–if only you had been here, Lord….things would have been different. Other times we are like Mary, beckoning “Come and see” echoing Christ’s own invitation. Sometimes we can point the way to Christ without truly knowing that is what we are doing and when we do that for a friend who feels as if the darkness is too dark, we shine brightly.

I have been in a weekend by Michael Crosby on compassion and realize that Jesus is a perfect model for it. In this Gospel, we see that Jesus is compassionate towards both sisters in their grief. Moved by love, Christ cares deeply as he gently goes about the task of doing one of the greatest miracles in the Gospels.

If you need some loving care, turn to Jesus and come out of your tomb.

Peace,

Suzanne