Today’s Gospel, from John 11, is the profound story of Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, and his miraculous return to life. As we sit with this passage, we’re invited to enter into a deep place of faith—one that doesn’t shy away from grief or confusion but trusts in God’s power beyond what we see.
We, like Mary and Martha, can feel the ache of waiting. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” Martha says. How often do we cry out in similar ways, when we face a death—literal or symbolic—in our own lives? Yet Jesus speaks a word into that darkness: “I am the resurrection and the life.” And so today, we remember that in every loss, Christ is already present, calling us by name, calling us into a new life we may not yet see.
Think about the moments you have been in a grave—when you felt stuck, isolated, or on the verge of giving up. Jesus doesn’t ignore those places; He enters them. He brings hope even when hope feels lost. And so, in reflecting on this story, we’re asked: where is Jesus calling us to come forth? What parts of us need resurrection, trust, and a fresh start? May we listen, like Lazarus, and step out in faith, knowing that Christ is always calling us toward new life.
Jesus Calls us by Name and He Loves us even we are disgrace in front of His Eyes.
