Fifth Sunday of Lent
St. John’s account of the raising of Lazarus focuses on a mighty deed of Jesus, but the story is also something of a journey of faith—a journey of coming to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
When Jesus hears that Lazarus is ill, Jesus reassures those with Him that this suffering is “for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Through the earthly suffering, Jesus indicates that it will be an opportunity for God to manifest His power.
His words might offer us some perspective in dealing with suffering in the world. We all encounter suffering, hardship, and trials, but it seems as if Jesus invites us to consider how God might be glorified through the experience of such suffering. Is the suffering meaningless? Or, could it somehow lead us to a place where we can no longer rely on anything else for security and comfort, and can turn and rely on God alone?
Martha expresses her sadness and even her disappointment with Jesus regarding her brother’s death, but then she also makes a beautiful act of faith: “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Martha expresses her belief, but later when it comes to that moment when Jesus asks to roll back the stone of Lazarus’ tomb. Martha, understandably so, hesitates. Jesus reassures her that she “will see the glory of God.” This is a clear example of her belief being tested—will she allow the stone to be rolled away? It’s an act of faith, a real test whether or not Martha truly believes in Jesus. The stone is removed, and Jesus prays to God and raises Lazarus from the dead.
Think about the image of the stone blocking the tomb—it is the last obstacle in the way of total trust in God. It needed to be rolled away in order for God to be glorified.
Our fear and doubt can keep us trapped or bound up, but belief in God is like moving every last obstacle in our life and giving God permission to act. Our life is made of up of many small acts of faith, the little moments where again and again, we have to say, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ.”
A woman recently told me, “Father, I encounter a lot of trials, and the brief prayer I find myself saying over and over is simply: ‘Jesus, I trust in you!’” It’s in these little acts of trust that we ultimately find new life in Christ. We are raised up from despair to hope, from hatred to charity, from doubt to belief—and we can trust that with God, all things are possible.
At every moment, even in the greatest trial, we can still hope in God. Jesus shows us that even in the face of death, a reality that feels so final and hopeless, we can still hope in eternal life. We can still believe in the Son of God.
Allow the Lord to enter into your struggles, to remove or roll away all that prevents his light from touching the deepest parts of your heart—for in this way, even in your suffering, the Son of God may be glorified.
Reflection by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB
