FAUSTI The journey of Jesus, who comes to see the place where his friend Lazarus was placed, is included in the twofold mention of His inner tremor. Here, at the sepulcher, where man's journey ends, all flight from God terminates. Here comes also the laborious journey of the Son, in search of the brothers, will be the effort of the sixth hour, that of the cross. "Remove the stone!" It is the order of Jesus. After her adhesion to Jesus, in Whom she found what she was looking for, Martha goes to her sister. The discovery of one becomes a call to the other; the sister invites the sister to go to the "Master" who calls her to meet with Him. Here, as in the Easter stories, women have the main role compared to men: they are more familiar with reality, and with life and death. Martha speaks secretly because the enemies of Jesus are present. This community of brothers in Bethany is the image of many communities living in hostile environments. Martha's announcement is effective: Mary rises from where she is to come out quickly to the encounter with the Lord of life. For Mary, the verbs "to awaken" and "to rise" are used, indicating the resurrection of Jesus Himself. Mary, leaving the house and the village to run towards the Lord Who loves her and who loves her, awakens and rises again to new life. The true resurrection is for her as it is for Martha, because she meets Jesus, her life. Mary's speed is her own solicitude of love. The evangelist notes that Jesus did not even enter the village. He takes the initiative and comes to meet us, but waits for us to go to the place where He is found. He meets Mary where He had met Marta, outside the place where the mourning is celebrated. For everyone it is necessary to leave the village and the death house to meet life. Jesus is resurrection and life. The resurrection is a life that does not ignore death; on the contrary, it passes through it, giving it its true meaning. All the protagonists are on the movement: Jesus and His disciples from beyond Jordan to Bethany, the Jews from Jerusalem, Martha from the village, Mary from home ... These Jews, following Mary who thinks she is going to the tomb, are in front of the One who gives life. They too are called to believe in Him, to pass from death to life. Mary's desire is the same as that of Martha It's every man's: the impossible wait not to die. She too does not yet know that there is a quality of life that goes beyond death. - In the face of death, there is only the crying. It is the pain, angry or resigned, for the loss of what is most very dear to the heart. In the face of death, all of us, poor and rich, wise and foolish, are equally defeated. Every action is impossible, only this reaction remains. Jesus' response to Mary, who loves Him and cries for her brother, is different from that given to Martha: will show not "what" but "how" the Lord is resurrection and life; through His "com-passion", which will also make Him pass through the weeping of death. Precisely because he loved him - and he still loves him! - tears from Him of com-passion are poured out. "He who is thirsty, come to me and drink"(7,37); those who thirst for life can quench their thirst at this source. From the eyes of Him who is the Light of the world flows out the water that makes us come to the light. His love will lead Him to come and see where we are, to the point of sharing our destiny: then from His Heart will flow forth for us the source of life. As his thirst (4:7) will quench our thirst, so will His tears will wipe away all our tears. They will fertilize the earth and make the hidden seed germinate. Lazarus himself will rise from the ground, the first stem of an endless mass of brothers.
FAUSTI The journey of Jesus, who comes to see the place where his friend Lazarus was placed, is included in the twofold mention of His inner tremor. Here, at the sepulcher, where man's journey ends, all flight from God terminates.
RispondiEliminaHere comes also the laborious journey of the Son, in search of the brothers, will be the effort of the sixth hour, that of the cross.
"Remove the stone!" It is the order of Jesus. After her adhesion to Jesus, in Whom she found what she was looking for, Martha goes to her sister. The discovery of one becomes a call to the other; the sister invites the sister to go to the "Master" who calls her to meet with Him.
Here, as in the Easter stories, women have the main role compared to men: they are more familiar with reality, and with life and death.
Martha speaks secretly because the enemies of Jesus are present.
This community of brothers in Bethany is the image of many communities living in hostile environments.
Martha's announcement is effective: Mary rises from where she is to come out quickly to the encounter with the Lord of life.
For Mary, the verbs "to awaken" and "to rise" are used, indicating the resurrection of Jesus Himself.
Mary, leaving the house and the village to run towards the Lord Who loves her and who loves her, awakens and rises again to new life.
The true resurrection is for her as it is for Martha, because she meets Jesus, her life. Mary's speed is her own solicitude of love. The evangelist notes that Jesus did not even enter the village.
He takes the initiative and comes to meet us, but waits for us to go to the place where He is found.
He meets Mary where He had met Marta, outside the place where the mourning is celebrated.
For everyone it is necessary to leave the village and the death house to meet life. Jesus is resurrection and life. The resurrection is a life that does not ignore death; on the contrary, it passes through it, giving it its true meaning. All the protagonists are on the movement: Jesus and His disciples from beyond Jordan to Bethany, the Jews from Jerusalem, Martha from the village, Mary from home ... These Jews, following Mary who thinks she is going to the tomb, are in front of the One who gives life. They too are called to believe in Him, to pass from death to life. Mary's desire is the same as that of Martha
It's every man's: the impossible wait not to die.
She too does not yet know that there is a quality of life that goes beyond death. - In the face of death, there is only the crying. It is the pain, angry or resigned, for the loss of what is most very dear to the heart. In the face of death, all of us, poor and rich, wise and foolish, are equally defeated. Every action is impossible, only this reaction remains.
Jesus' response to Mary, who loves Him and cries for her brother, is different from that given to Martha:
will show not "what" but "how" the Lord is resurrection and life; through His "com-passion", which will also make Him pass through the weeping of death. Precisely because he loved him - and he still loves him! - tears from Him of com-passion are poured out. "He who is thirsty, come to me and drink"(7,37); those who thirst for life can quench their thirst at this source.
From the eyes of Him who is the Light of the world flows out the water that makes us come to the light.
His love will lead Him to come and see where we are, to the point of sharing our destiny: then from His Heart will flow forth for us the source of life.
As his thirst (4:7) will quench our thirst, so will His tears will wipe away all our tears. They will fertilize the earth and make the hidden seed germinate.
Lazarus himself will rise from the ground, the first stem of an endless mass of brothers.