FAUSTI - "There was a sick man, Lazarus of Bethany, from the village of Mary and his sister Martha". We are at the last call, the final one, who makes us His disciples in full. "Bethany" means "house of the poor" or "of the afflicted", and recalls the other Bethany, beyond Jordan, where John the Baptist recognizes in Jesus the Son of God. Here He will be recognized by Martha. Lazarus is sick: he does not stand. He represents every man who, before evil, first falters, then falls and lastly dies. The activity of the Son of Man is to raise man from his evil and raise him from death. Lazarus is the only miraculously raised of John who has his own name: he is the first to come out of the tomb to follow the "Beautiful Shepherd", who calls each of His sheep by name. His name means "God helps". In death, as in birth, no one does anything for himself. No one is born without a mother, no one dies without the Father. Faith in the resurrection of the dead in Israel is not the result of philosophical speculation: it was born of the experience that God loves His people, is their friend and always remains faithful to them. Even "this" infirmity is not for death, but for the glory of God. Death is the first place of any misunderstanding about life. In fact, it can be understood as a separation from everything or as Communion with God. Illness for death is sin, It is the sting that infects our existence, making us selfish and closing us to the Love of the Father and of our brothers and sisters. But where sin abounded, overflows grace: now every illness and death can become "for the Glory of God", who uses Mercy for all. "Jesus remains where He was for two days" and lets His friend die. If he had gone, he would not have died. He will deliberately be there later. Two days after the announcement of his friend's illness, when He knew that his destiny had been fulfilled, Jesus proposed to His disciples that they return to Judea. He had just retired from there because of the hostility encountered by those with power. Jesus returns to Jerusalem for the last time. "We must do the works of the One who sent me until it is day; then comes the night, when no one can operate anymore"(9,4). Lazarus is called "our friend". For the third time, Lord's love for us and our friendship with Him, which makes us friends among us, is the principle of resurrection and life. For us, death is the end of all hope. For Jesus, instead, on the line of biblical revelation, it is the end of the old day and the beginning of the restorative sleep, followed by the awakening of a new day. Death is downplayed: it is not sinking into darkness, but peacemaking rest, populated by the secret dreams of the heart. Since the Son is his friend and loves him, Lazarus, like every man, even if he is dead, lives. To love one means to tell him. "You will not die." In the light of the love of the Son, death is no longer the distressing expectation, the abyss that sucks, the tragedy of life, is Communion with the Father. - Jesus waited for Lazarus to die. After speaking of sleeping and awakening, He clarifies the misunderstanding: He is speaking of death, from which He awakens him to reveal the glory of God. It seems absurd: announcing that His friend Lazarus is dead, He rejoices for His disciples that He had not been there to heal him. The resurrection of Lazarus will be for the disciples the sign that makes them believe in Jesus as "Resurrection and Life". Thomas is called a "twin". is Jesus' "other", willing to die not "for" Him, like Peter (13:17), but "with" Him. He still does not know that, for Jesus, his dying is giving one's life on behalf of one's brothers and sisters, so as to receive it again (10:17).
FAUSTI - "There was a sick man, Lazarus of Bethany, from the village of Mary and his sister Martha".
RispondiEliminaWe are at the last call, the final one,
who makes us His disciples in full.
"Bethany" means "house of the poor" or "of the afflicted", and recalls the other Bethany, beyond Jordan, where John the Baptist recognizes in Jesus the Son of God.
Here He will be recognized by Martha.
Lazarus is sick: he does not stand. He represents every man who, before evil, first falters, then falls and lastly dies.
The activity of the Son of Man is to raise man from his evil and raise him from death.
Lazarus is the only miraculously raised of John who has his own name: he is the first to come out of the tomb to follow the "Beautiful Shepherd", who calls each of His sheep by name.
His name means "God helps". In death, as in birth, no one does anything for himself. No one is born without a mother, no one dies without the Father.
Faith in the resurrection of the dead in Israel is not the result of philosophical speculation: it was born of the experience that God loves His people, is their friend and always remains faithful to them. Even "this" infirmity is not for death, but for the glory of God.
Death is the first place of any misunderstanding about life. In fact, it can be understood as a separation from everything or as Communion with God.
Illness for death is sin,
It is the sting that infects our existence, making us selfish and closing us to the Love of the Father and of our brothers and sisters. But where sin abounded, overflows grace:
now every illness and death can become "for the Glory of God", who uses Mercy for all. "Jesus remains where He was for two days" and lets His friend die.
If he had gone, he would not have died.
He will deliberately be there later.
Two days after the announcement of his friend's illness, when He knew that his destiny had been fulfilled, Jesus proposed to His disciples that they return to Judea. He had just retired from there because of the hostility encountered by those with power. Jesus returns to Jerusalem for the last time. "We must do the works of the One who sent me until it is day; then comes the night, when no one can operate anymore"(9,4). Lazarus is called "our friend". For the third time, Lord's love for us and our friendship with Him, which makes us friends among us, is the principle of resurrection and life.
For us, death is the end of all hope.
For Jesus, instead, on the line of biblical revelation, it is the end of the old day and the beginning of the restorative sleep, followed by the awakening of a new day. Death is downplayed: it is not sinking into darkness, but peacemaking rest, populated by the secret dreams of the heart.
Since the Son is his friend and loves him, Lazarus, like every man, even if he is dead, lives.
To love one means to tell him. "You will not die."
In the light of the love of the Son, death is no longer the distressing expectation, the abyss that sucks, the tragedy of life, is Communion with the Father. - Jesus waited for Lazarus to die. After speaking of sleeping and awakening, He clarifies the misunderstanding: He is speaking of death, from which He awakens him to reveal the glory of God.
It seems absurd: announcing that His friend Lazarus is dead, He rejoices for His disciples that He had not been there to heal him.
The resurrection of Lazarus will be for the disciples the sign that makes them believe in Jesus as "Resurrection and Life".
Thomas is called a "twin". is Jesus' "other", willing to die not "for" Him, like Peter (13:17), but "with" Him.
He still does not know that, for Jesus, his dying is giving one's life on behalf of one's brothers and sisters, so as to receive it again (10:17).