The lesson picks up the
story at the point where Mary, the one who was commended for sitting at Jesus
feet while Martha took care of the catering, comes to accuse Jesus of not
acting in a timely manner. "If you had been here my brother would not have
died" is how she greets the One at whose feet she had previously sat in
adoration. Truth is she sent word two days earlier and Jesus took his time. So
she is right. If he had come when called Lazarus would not have died. Martha on
the other hand, despite all the needs of funeral arrangements, met Jesus as he
arrived to tell him God would do whatever he would ask. Such is the nature of
grief. It changes us. Martha previously intent on serving is compelled to seek
and Mary previously intent on seeking withdraws. In the end Mary and Martha's
grief is met by the change in Jesus. Jesus wept. That is the Gospel in two
words for up to this point the Jesus of John's Gospel is God incarnate who is
more Word than flesh. But when Jesus weeps it is God weeping for the pain we endure
and in that shared grief we like Lazarus are revived.
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