The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
About a year ago, we rushed our oldest son to the hospital with a number of very scary symptoms. After several rounds of testing and meetings with doctors, we left the hospital with a son who was still very, very sick. One morning, I was watching our son sleep in his hospital bed and I began to weep. I was alone, just staring at our son, and realizing that there was nothing that I could do to help him. As tears ran down, I got honest with Jesus, saying, “I know that he’s Yours; I know that he’s really not mine.” I said it over and over until I gave our son to Jesus and the Blessed Mother that morning.
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we listen to the story of Lazarus. Oftentimes we forget what happened before Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb. Lazarus was a dear friend of Jesus. Mary and Martha trusted in Jesus so much that they sent for Him, knowing He could heal Lazarus. But instead of rushing over, Jesus waited. When He finally arrived, in His humanness, His reaction was the same as each and every one of us: “Jesus wept.”
It would have been easier for everyone if Jesus had arrived days before, healed Lazarus, and stayed to celebrate. But He didn’t skip the grief to get to the miracle. Jesus waited for the Jews to surround Mary and Martha in their despair. The miracle wasn’t just for Lazarus, it was for everyone. Because He waited — because of the suffering, because the community surrounding Mary and Martha — more people witnessed the miraculous healing and came to believe in Him. Brothers and sisters, we’re still witnessing the works of the Father through the story of Lazarus because it’s the story of you and me.
The evening that I gave our son to Jesus and the Blessed Mother, things got worse. Our son lost the use of his legs. The doctors rushed him to get an emergency MRI but found no answers. We blessed his body with holy water and laid hands on him asking for the intercession of St. Jude and St. Pio of Pietrelcina.
Within 45 minutes, our son started moving his toes and soon after was able walk by himself. The doctors were in awe. As the sun was rising that morning of Holy Thursday, we told our son what a testament his suffering was and still is. God worked through our son, giving everyone around him a profound gift.
We are all on a road to healing. To truly understand the Father’s love for us, we have to go to the painful places we thought God had abandoned and understand that God never left. He was always there and He still is. He’s just waiting for us to lift our eyes up to Him. He’s waiting patiently on us, ready to bring light to the darkest places of our hearts.
Danielle Noonan is a musician, worship leader and speaker who began leading music at the age of thirteen at her small church in East Texas. Danielle brings people of all ages together using her music, testimony and storytelling, giving light to the importance of an authentic prayer life, being hopeful in all things and unity amongst people. You can find out more about her here.