Lazarus Saturday – Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
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The Gospel reading of Lazarus’ resurrection, though it is more an awakening or revival – according to the first words of Christ addressed to the Apostles, than a true resurrection – is explained by the Holy Fathers of the Church from different perspectives. I am only interested in the perspective of the personal relationship between the God-Man Christ and Martha, Mary and Lazarus. And, what significance does their personal relationship have for all of us.
Throughout the Gospel reading for today (see John 11: 1–45), it is mentioned several times in various ways that Christ Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus, and even wept for them.
The questions that everyone could ask themselves are: Does He only love them in that way or does He also love me and cry for me? Why is it not written in the Holy Gospel that He also loved some others, who are mentioned by name, and that He wept for them? One may even ask themself: Why does He not love me that way and does He not cry for me?
The answer to all these possible doubts is that, in fact, a new quality of personal relationship is taking place between them; not so much because of Christ’s love for them – His love is never in doubt, but because of the love of Martha, Mary and Lazarus for the God-Man Christ. This is the true meaning and interpretation of the Gospel words: “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus,” as well as of the words, “Jesus wept” (John 11: 5, 35).
Christ’s testimony of Mary is very clear: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved me greatly. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. ”(Luke 7: 44–48).
In other words, there is not the slightest doubt about the equality of His Divine love for all of us. The question remains: What is our response to His love – do we reciprocate it and how much, or do we reciprocate it at all? It is precisely our answer that makes up and determines the quality of our mutual love and relationship with Him, as well as, the difference between our personal relationship with Christ, and, the personal relationship of other people with Him. Thus, in the end, because of that relationship, we recognise and discover some among us in the Church, as saints, others as saved, and some others as sinners, and so on.
Do you know what saddens me most in our relationship with Christ?
That we are constantly seeking proof of His love for us, just as the Jews said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37). Constant doubt occurs because we are as programmed only to seek; if we were inclined only to give, we would have no doubt.
Rarely do we ask and take stock as to whether we are showing our love to Him at all, or whether we are somehow proving our love to Him; and whether we can do much more than what we think that we have ever done (supposedly) for Him. Even though we know that valuing of our so-called effort is ultimately determined by His power and we know that our part is only to strive and have good intentions.
It is easy to believe when we see, just as those who saw Lazarus’ resurrection: ” Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.” (John 11: 1-45).
And He continues patiently and unceasingly, in various ways in the life of each one of us – from the best to the most sinful, to prove or manifest Himself to us – just as He did to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11: 25-26). And also toward all the Jews present: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”(John 11: 41–42).
If we truly believed that “he who believes in Christ, even if he dies, will live”, He would have not need to resurrect Lazarus, but the reality, unfortunately, is different. That is why the Gospel reading about the four-day-dead Lazarus, for us Christians, is the guiding thought of the whole Passion Week.
This humble testimony of His declared constantly before us, the created and the mortal, I personally comprehend with my reason (nous) as a great shame for me, but at the same time I see that I have not yet repented by deed.
Most Holy Theotokos, I always know that He loves me and cries for me – just as He does for all of us, and that has been shown and proven to me a thousand times in my life. I beseech thee, now give me tears to weep over my sins and my failed relationship with Him, and give me the strength to prove my love towards Him the way He wants me to do it, no matter in what manner it may be. Thank you.
A few more words before I finish.
” The disciples said to Him, ‘Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.'”(John 11: 8-10).
Walking in the day, that is, with Christ – wherever He might go, is the same as living an Orthodox spiritual life with an enlightened mind, which enlightenment – let us not forget, comes only from the gift of the prayer of the mind in the heart, and not from reading books; it also does not come from an accumulation of various knowledge; it is living an orthodox spiritual life in knowledge.
And when someone mentions the unbelief of the holy Apostle Thomas, just remember this part of the Gospel: ” Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’” (John 11:16). In whatever mood Thomas says these words is not important, it is important that he is ready to die for Christ; and nothing else matters.
In actual fact, we have many visible signs, even for the blind, in present times, which show insufficient repentance on our part, in addition to the invisible – for those who are not enlightened. We might even repent, voluntarily, while there is time. in actual fact
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!
Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
(15.04.2022 15:41)
