Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 11,19-27.
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”
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. Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
Jesus Comforts Us
1. Going out to meet Him. Martha went out to meet Jesus at a very difficult time in her life. Sooner or later, you and I may have the same experience as Martha and how we welcome Jesus into our lives at that moment is very important. If we meet Jesus with anger, or indifference the experience may be ruined and we may not feel His healing grace. Every time we encounter Jesus, we are changed. If we let him, He can heal our hearts and have them feed on His love from that moment on.
2. If you had been here… How many times have we said to God “If only you had been here, ‘this’ wouldn’t have happened.” It is hard to understand that God knows what is best and that He only wants the best for us. His plan is not always our plan, sometimes we lose loved ones. During these times we can go through an inner struggle where there are only questions, but having faith as Martha did may help us find the answers.
3. Do you believe this? God offers you a path of faith. He invites you to believe in Him knowing that what He proposes is something better and that you will eventually discover and understand it. Time will help you see and believe, and you will find comfort.
God bless you and be with you, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
