“In a completely natural way the sisters of Lazarus ‘blame’ Jesus for being away: ‘We told you! If only you'd been here!’” (Saint Josemaria).
Christ did not come to the Earth to be loved, but He came to the Earth to communicate the truth and to GIVE love – completely and entirely for me (and for you too)…
And yet, the people who loved Him loved His dearly and even to the point of death…
And I have been thinking about those who loved Christ – His friends – today…
“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.’” (John 11:19-27).
I have been reflecting on that story about the resurrection of Lazarus. When Christ arrived at Lazarus’ home – after Lazarus had already died – He was not greeted as a stranger or even as a formal guest, come to pay His respects. He was greeted as a dear friend. There was familiarity in Martha’s address to Him… “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died”.
And I have been reflecting on that. She rushed out to meet her friend and she spoke to Him directly. She told Him what she truly felt and did not mince her words. And in her communication to Him there was such beautiful sweet faith – “And even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”
Her dead brother had been buried for a ,atter of days in a part of the world where the heat ensured that dead bodies rotted faster than in most other places on earth. And still Martha stood there in the middle of the road speaking frankly to her dear friend. She did not care what it looked like or how it sounded. She did not care whether others thought her mad. She knew her friend. She knew what he was capable of. And she trusted Him blindly. She knew He was the solution to everything…
Saint Josemaria wrote, “Have you seen the affection and confidence with which Christ's friends treat him? In a completely natural way the sisters of Lazarus ‘blame’ Jesus for being away: ‘We told you! If only you'd been here!’ Speak to Him with calm confidence: ‘Teach us to treat You with the loving friendliness of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, as the first twelve treated You.’”
And what did Christ do for His friends? He raised their brother from the dead…
And so today, as I pray my prayers and go about my day, it occurs to me to wonder whether I could ever have the Grace to be like Martha, and meet my dearest friend in the middle of the street and speak to Him frankly and tell Him that I trust Him to make everything better.
I just wonder if I shall ever receive such a Grace as that?
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.