Come out, Beloved!

So we fast. It is Lent. We pray and abstain. We focus on our sinfulness. It is a time of reflection, rejuvenation and reconciliation. Some even say it is a period of mourning.

Despite what they say, today’s Gospel reading is one of hope. It tells us about a man’s death. What a great way to tell a story about life. How can someone know the joys of happiness unless he has experienced the grief of sadness? How can anyone truly appreciate life, unless he or she becomes aware of inescapable death? And so we are told the story of Lazarus, and that he has died.

Poor Mary! She sits and mourns for her dead brother. It is the same Mary in Luke 10:28, who Jesus says has taken the better place, which is close to Him.

Here she does not come out to meet our Lord. He has to send for her. When she does come, she almost chastises him, except for her grief. This grief transfers to the Lord himself. He sighs from the heart and asks in tears, “Where have you put him?” (Jn 11:35).

It is such a significant thing for us as sinners to notice Jesus’ saddened sighs. Lazarus is dead, but he is not forgotten. Even if sin destroys us and in our souls we are dead, we are not forgotten.

There is sadness. The Lord does not want us separated from him. The Shepherd once more looks for his lost sheep. “Where have you put him?”

Even in that death of sin, even in the tomb of our darkness, Christ has given the instruction: Open the grave. “Take the stone away.” (Jn 11:39).

Why do we allow ourselves to stay in this dungeon? As bad as we are, our sins are not as great as God’s love. Jesus loves us: All of us. He calls to us as he called to Lazarus; “Come out.” (Jn 11:43).

I often wonder if Lazarus remembered his time being dead. I wonder if he enjoyed being alive or if he wished he could be in heaven. I wonder if he became aware of being resurrected as we become aware when we wake up from sleep.

He had been dead so long decomposition had begun. Resurrecting a man so long dead is a small thing for our God. In fact our biggest trial is only a small thing in His eyes.

And so Lazarus hears his Master’s call and comes out of the grave into the light: The Light of Christ. But even as he is coming out, he has bindings and blindings: “his feet and hands bound with bands of stuff and a cloth around his face” (Jn 11:44).

Perhaps the greatest problem that we face, having accepted life, is slipping back into the bad habits that cause us to sin. But Jesus comes to our rescue again. He removes the obstacles that prevent us from seeing the light.

He opens the door of the cage of sin. He commands, “Unbind him. Let him go free” (Jn 11:44). And so it is done, not only with Lazarus but with us as well. When Jesus makes us free, we are free indeed.

So it is Lent. We pray and abstain. We focus on our sinfulness. It is a time of reflection, rejuvenation and reconciliation, but not a period of mourning.

It is a time to remember that Jesus does love us. It is a time (more than ever) when we show our love for Him. So we listen out for His call today and we rise from the death of sin with Him on Easter Sunday morning and every Sunday morning. He is calling, can you hear him? “Come out, beloved.”

Dearest Jesus, open my ears that I may truly hear your call. Take me out of the darkness of my sinfulness and strengthen me as I strive to walk the path on which you have directed me.

Precious Jesus, light of my life, free me from the things that bind me to sin. Open my eyes that I may see the wonder of your love in all the beauty around me.  

Holy Jesus, you are my resurrection, my life and my hope, accept my Lenten sacrifices and grant that I may be worthy to share in the joy and glory of your resurrection.
Amen

Gospel Meditations for March are by Sean Leid, a member of the Cathedral’s Communication Team.