The Raising of Lazarus

The Fifth Sunday of Lent (April 6) begins the last phase of this sacred season, a period traditionally known as Passiontide.  “The custom of veiling crosses and images in these last two weeks of Lent has much to commend it in terms of religious psychology, because it helps us to concentrate on the great essentials of Christ’s work of Redemption. . . . [A] pastor may choose to restore this wise practice in his own parish. . . . Crosses are unveiled after the Good Friday ceremonies. All other images are unveiled, without any ceremony, just before the Easter Vigil begins” (Msgr. Peter J. Elliott, Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year according to the Modern Roman Rite, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2002, pp. 67-68).

The gospel passage for this Sunday is a veiling and unveiling of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.  The “Raising of Lazarus” is the miracle which Jesus works for his recently deceased friend, Lazarus (John 11:1-45; Lectionary: cycle A).  The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament by Curtis Mitch and Scott Hahn (Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 2010) offers some enlightening commentary on this messianic miracle of our Lord.  “The raising of Lazarus is the sixth of seven ‘signs’ that Jesus performs in John (12:18), giving emphatic support to his claim to give ‘life’ (5:25-29; 6:40). There is a dark side to this episode as well, as it provokes Jewish opposition that will precipitate Jesus’ death (11:45-53). Similar miracles are recorded in [other] gospels, such as the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:21-43) and the raising of the widow’s son from Nain (Lk 7:11-17; CCC 994).”

When Jesus is informed of Lazarus’ serious infirmity, He waits two days in the same place before going to Bethany.  “The delay of Jesus proves fatal for Lazarus. This period of waiting is not a mistake or miscalculation, but part of his plan to generate faith in the disciples (11:15, 42). Raising the dead to new life will have a more profound effect on them than raising the sick to health.”  Consequently, the sisters of poor Lazarus grieve his loss.  When our Lord arrives at Bethany, Martha asks Jesus His reason for delay and yet affirms her belief in Lazarus’ future bodily resurrection.  Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (Jn 11:25-26).  “Jesus places all hopes for a future resurrection upon himself. He possesses the absolute sovereignty over life and death that was always believed to be the sole prerogative of Yahweh (1 Sam 2:6; Wis 16:13; CCC 994)”.

On the way to Lazarus’ tomb to work this great miracle, the gospel records that Jesus wept (Jn 11:35) – not tears of despair – but of love and sympathy for Lazarus and the sorrow of his family.  Jesus in His sacred humanity experienced all human emotions, including grief for the death his dear friend (CCC 478).  Subsequently, He works a miracle that causes many to believe in him (Jn 11:45).  Not everyone was pleased, though.  This miracle led to the conspiracy of the Sanhedrin to have Jesus condemned.  And we will experience with our Lord next week these events as they are made present in the liturgical celebrations of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and the Easter Triduum.