Daily Reflection
March 22, 2026

I am approaching this reading a little differently this time, still grieving the recent passing of a long-time close friend. I have a heightened sensitivity to the suffering of Martha and Mary. It must have been agonizing for them to wait for Jesus. Perhaps they took turns, sitting by Lazarus’ bed or standing in the doorway, hoping to see him walking toward their home. When he does not arrive before the death of their brother, they have to cope with the sadness and grief without their friend and teacher.

Moving beyond my initial connection with Marth and Mary, I notice the disciples’ fear of returning to Judea, given recent events; The Jews were trying to stone you. What I hear is they have yet to understand Jesus’ purpose. They are concerned with his welfare, while Jesus is concerned with his Father’s will. In Ignatian language, he knows his purpose (Principle and Foundation) and is “laser focused” on doing what God desires of him. His choice to return to Bethany is not made out of recklessness, but comes from a place of interior freedom, unrestrained by the doubts, fears, and hesitancy that control many of us. He will not deny his identity to protect his own safety.

When Jesus arrives in Bethany, the story shifts to a theme much larger than the illness and death of his close friend Lazarus. It is more than the healing of a man blind from birth, or the liberation of the Samaritan woman at the well. There is an invitation to look at this reading in the context of death and resurrection - A precursor to Jesus’ death?

When Martha meets Jesus, she affirms her faith despite being tested by grief. He does not dismiss her pain, but joins her, demonstrating that faith and sorrow do coexist. His actions reveal his unwavering compassion for all human suffering. His response, I am the resurrection and the life, challenges Martha and me to look beyond physical death to the hope of eternal life with God. It is comforting and demanding, calling me to live in the tension of life and death, joy and suffering. A stance that embraces life in all of its fullness.

The resurrection is not just a future hope; it is standing before Martha in the person of Jesus. Calling Lazarus to come out of the tomb demonstrates his authority over death. As Lazarus comes out of the tomb, covered in bandages, Jesus’ command to unbind him and let him go is a powerful symbol of the unbinding of humanity from fear. He is the One who enters the places of suffering, breaking the bandages of slavery and creating life.

This story encourages me to trust in God’s timing and to find courage in the face of any disappointment or adversity. It reminds me of Christ’s humanity as he cries at Lazarus’ tomb. It invites me to deeper reflection on the interconnectedness of grief and hope and to look directly into the places of unimaginable suffering, trusting in God’s power to bring life where there seems to be only death.

For me, the timing of this reading is an example of God’s perfect timing, offering reassurance when I most needed God’s comfort. My friend is gone from my sight, leaving a change to the rhythm of my life. I acknowledge my grief, but I am not “stuck” or “lost” because underneath the surface of the current moment is God’s promise of the resurrection, reunion with God, and all of His creation.