AUDIO MEDITATION:

Eduard von Gebhardt (German, 1838-1925), The Raising of Lazarus. Public domain.

FULL TEXT:

When Jesus declares himself the “resurrection and the life,” Martha replies, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Dawn is just breaking in this image, and Lazarus seems to have awakened from a deep slumber, dazed and bewildered. The figures surrounding him either recoil in shock or examine him more closely. His sisters, however, have a different focus.

Despite their brother returning from death, Mary and Martha are intently gazing at Jesus, who lets others attend to Lazarus as he teaches them. The two sisters understand that the raising of Lazarus is a sign that reveals something even more urgent and amazing: Jesus is the Son of God who has come into the world to bring us life.

How can we recommit to our Lenten practices today so that, like Martha and Mary, we can turn our gaze to the Lord, the resurrection and the life?