‘Moses erected the tabernacle … He brought the ark into the tabernacle and put the screening veil in place … the cloud of the Lord rested on the tabernacle by day, and a fire shone within the cloud by night, for all the House of Israel to see.’
‘How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, God of hosts”—John 11:19-27.
Martha, Mary, Lazarus and Jesus
Two sisters and a brother lived in Bethany: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. They had tried to make their house a welcoming place, a loving home for Jesus, their honored guest and dear friend. As he entered the cool of the house, they would gently take off his sandals and wash the dust from his feet. They gave him a place of quiet, screening him as far as they could, from intrusive eyes.
He rested quietly with them while they prepared food. They would light the lights and then he would bless the food and the house was filled with his presence. The sisters loved to comfort him with apples and raisin cakes, with wine from the cellar and cool water drawn from the well. Then they would wait for a while with their brother, patiently sitting at his feet, until he was ready to speak.
As he spoke to them they drew quietly closer, warming themselves by the living flame of love, and hour by hour, day by day, they sensed that he too drew nearer to them until it seemed as though he was always close by.
What Jesus Can Do
But he was far away when Lazarus became sick. As Martha held the cup to his cracked lips, Mary promised her that their friend would come. Jesus would not fail to save the friend who he loved so much. She sent messengers to him. He would come soon. He did not come though, and the spirit left Lazarus as he lay in Mary’s arms and her tears splashed onto his face.
The neighbors arrived then, to comfort the sisters and they told Martha how Jesus was on his way. Kissing Mary, she wrapped her veil around her head and set out to find him. It was a truth she spoke to him, not a reproach ‘If you had been here my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ She knew, she understood, what Jesus could do. She knew that her brother would rise again.
She would understand even more deeply in the next moment:
‘… I am the resurrection and the life,’
She stepped back, shading her eyes as the light touched her face. She heard him asking her
‘Do you believe this?’
She stood before the Holy of Holies with the veil lifted away and nothing but truth could come from her lips as she stood before the Light, the Life and the Truth of the Lord:
‘Yes, Lord … I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’
[Readings: Ex 40:16-21, 34-38; Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11; Jn 11:19-27]
This was a beautiful resptoday’s reading. reading. Beautifully stated to say the least and connected with my spirit. Thank you for sharing.