When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarushad already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,
the Son of God, the one coming into the world."
John 11:17-27
Receiving news that a friend or loved one is in the hospital or diagnosed with an illness creates angst and fear. We recognize our own immortality and feel powerless. As a community of faith, maybe we are baffled at the reasons events like these occur. Perhaps like Martha, we ask "Lord, if you had been here..." Martha has probably witnessed the impact that Jesus has on those around him and in her own community. She sees the essence of life that just seems to pour forth from Him and wants that power to flow over Lazarus and his death. She recognizes something in Jesus, but may not quite know everything about Him.
When Jesus responds to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Her response is filled with clarity. It is like Peter's response to Jesus' question in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 16:17-19). She more fully recognizes and acknowledges Jesus for who He is. She now sees Him out of his own revealing.
How is God revealed then to us in our times of trouble? Possibly in ways we do not think. God is revealed to the child in the hospital through the comfort of her mother. God is revealed through the meal brought to a family in crisis. God is revealed by holding the hand of a friend preparing his entrance to everlasting life. Just as God was in the midst of Martha's community, God is present around us. His quiet presence is with us, assuring we are not alone in our struggles. His presence is experienced by the compassion and mercy we show one another throughout our shared lives - struggles, joys and all.
JP Arrossa
the Son of God, the one coming into the world."
John 11:17-27
Receiving news that a friend or loved one is in the hospital or diagnosed with an illness creates angst and fear. We recognize our own immortality and feel powerless. As a community of faith, maybe we are baffled at the reasons events like these occur. Perhaps like Martha, we ask "Lord, if you had been here..." Martha has probably witnessed the impact that Jesus has on those around him and in her own community. She sees the essence of life that just seems to pour forth from Him and wants that power to flow over Lazarus and his death. She recognizes something in Jesus, but may not quite know everything about Him.
When Jesus responds to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Her response is filled with clarity. It is like Peter's response to Jesus' question in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 16:17-19). She more fully recognizes and acknowledges Jesus for who He is. She now sees Him out of his own revealing.
How is God revealed then to us in our times of trouble? Possibly in ways we do not think. God is revealed to the child in the hospital through the comfort of her mother. God is revealed through the meal brought to a family in crisis. God is revealed by holding the hand of a friend preparing his entrance to everlasting life. Just as God was in the midst of Martha's community, God is present around us. His quiet presence is with us, assuring we are not alone in our struggles. His presence is experienced by the compassion and mercy we show one another throughout our shared lives - struggles, joys and all.
JP Arrossa
RSS Feed
