Death hurts. When we feel the sadness. But there is also the pain.
Jesus felt the pain of death. When his friend Lazarus died Jesus first cries (Jn. 11:35) and then groans in pain (Jn. 11:38).
Why did Jesus cry and groan in pain if He knew He could raise Lazarus from the dead?
Because at that moment, as Jesus approached the grave of Lazarus, Jesus was also approaching the grave of everyone in human history. As He approached the grave of Lazarus, Jesus approached the grave of everyone we have lost in our life. And He gathered onto Himself all the sadness and pain. He didn’t want us to bear the pain alone. As you and I endure pain in our life, the shoulder of Jesus is right next to us, feeling the burden as well. We are not alone.
When we feel hurt, sad, abandoned, or lonely, Jesus is with us.
As Jesus approached the grave of Lazarus, “He cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” The voice of the Son of God shattered the bars of death. Lazarus rose from the dead and returned to this earthly life. Notice that Jesus calls Lazarus by name. The saints tell us that if Jesus had not specified Lazarus by name, then every single corpse in that cemetery would have risen from the dead – that is how powerful the voice of the Son of God is to destroy death and restore life.
But Jesus did more. Lazarus had only returned to this earthly life. Lazarus later died and was buried, and his body remained dead. And so Jesus did more, for Lazarus and for you and me. Jesus went to the Cross and died. And on Easter Sunday, He rose triumphant from the grave – not to merely earthly life, but to heavenly life.
If we join ourselves to Jesus in this life, especially through the Sacraments, Jesus promises that He will raise us up at the end of time to heavenly life. Draw close to Jesus. He has destroyed death. He wants to share His victory with us. Let Him.
God bless,
Msgr. Bransfield
