John has taken great care to depict the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Not only does this scene prefigure Jesus' death and resurrection and reveal a deep theological significance, it also portrays Jesus' character and reveals the heart of Jesus.
The Gospel of John chapter 11, verses 1 to 45 detail the dire situation of Lazarus, the dying brother of Martha and Mary. Jesus had not revived Lazarus in time. Lazarus had died before Jesus' arrival. It is described that Jesus only left for Bethany two days later to "awaken him" (Jn 11:11). Upon His arrival at Bethany, Jesus, greeted by the Jews who were weeping and grieving with Martha and Mary, was "greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved" and began to weep (Jn 11:33,35).
Indeed, Jesus knew that Lazarus would be resurrected; grief would pass and be transformed into joy. Why did Jesus mourn and weep for His friend’s death? This reveals Jesus' humanity; He is truly human with full human emotions. Jesus does not place Himself above human sufferings. Indeed, He, too, experiences and understands our challenges and pain.
The face of God, so full of compassion, and His heart, pained by human sufferings, are revealed in this scene of Jesus weeping for Lazarus' death.
Therefore, Jesus did not only weep for Lazarus, but also for all of humanity beloved by God. He is weeping for you and me. Humanity suffers in the hands of the devil due to sins; hearts and minds bound; life grinded down by illnesses and physical hardships; enslaved by death. As our Heavenly Father is deeply pained by all these, Jesus is also grieved and angered.
Indeed, the complicated emotions felt by Jesus can never be thoroughly portrayed nor fully comprehended by us.
However, we can be assured that Jesus cares deeply for Lazarus, as well as the Jews, and all of humanity since the creation of the world. He cares deeply for me and for you!
Reflection
Lazarus did not know how Jesus had wept for him. We, too, do not know how much tears Jesus has shed for us. At this moment, settle in and sit with Jesus. Notice how Jesus' gaze on you is full of compassion.
Imagine: What areas in your life are embraced and worried about by Jesus? Do you want to know? Will you ask Jesus?
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for revealing your heart to us through the story of raising Lazarus. I know that I’m self-centered and have failed to pay attention to your emotions and needs, especially the areas of my life where your embrace and concerns are present. Thank you for revealing your emotions to us even though You are the Son of God! Let me not hide my face from your love! Remind me that You also need my love and understanding. I know that I’m in your embrace, and starting today, help me to return this embrace! For this I pray in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The face of God, so full of compassion, and His heart, pained by human sufferings, are revealed in this scene of Jesus weeping for Lazarus' death.
耶穌對我話：妳醒悟吧！不要再沉睡啦！我在等妳呢！有我的恩寵，妳有足夠的力量從自我中心走出來，妳抓緊靜獨的時間，親近我啦！妳不會在別人的眼目中生活，妳會勇敢承擔我賦予妳的使命，帶領妳所接觸的人走近我，與心中的妳、我連結起來！
主！我的天主！我感謝祢！
Lord stand by me . Help me be awaken and follow your path.
It might be due to lack of faith that I sometimes consider myself not worthy of God’s attention and embrace as I am not an obedient daughter who always stay in my comfort zone rejecting God’s will, while many of the Catholics are more devoted in serving others, following God’s teachings. God, give me strength that I can return my embrace to You one day!
不要怕与耶穌同行,我須要你給我幫助及力量,我們是他的肖像
主耶穌，在這混亂的世情中，祢仍心愛著我。雖然在急速的時間祢帶走了我們的母親，但仍感到祢是我們的支持後盾，賜給我平安。請給我恆心地學習，跟隨祢。
When we sin, Jesus wept over my faults like he wept over Lazerath
疫情持續，每天從新聞報導中，聽到確診染病和死亡數字，實在感到神傷和痛心，甚至開始有點麻木！
主，在這徬徨之際，我們實在極需要祢的垂視，也知道祢每天同樣地着緊我們的身心靈的健康。然而，我們因着抗疫，每天只曉得營營役役地尋找治病的藥方，卻忘記了祢每天都與我們同行，同樣面對種種的困苦。就正如祢當見到拉匝祿的死亡時，也感到傷心流淚，祢也為我們的無知而流淚。
慈悲的耶穌，請幫助我們也感到祢替我們的着緊，好使我們懂得為別人着緊竹的需要。
耶穌你為拉匝祿的死而流淚，現今人類的罪行也讓人類處於死亡中，我知道你也在為人類痛哭難過，你用心良苦地用你的性命拯救世人，但世人仍然心如頑石，把你拒之門外。
主耶穌，你每日也在流淚，心如刀割，我為我們人類求你赦免我們的罪，我希望像亞巴郎一樣，求你開恩，就算得十個義人，也寬恕世人的罪過，消滅現在的疫情，我知道你會承著雲彩降來，我熱切期待你到來的那一天。亞孟。
有時候我被罪惡綑綁，無法脫身，耶穌可憐我為我流淚，他還要幫助我脫離綑綁，使我復活起來。感謝天主耶穌，時時照顧我的身心。
主，天父，感謝您祢把聖言化為血肉，降來人間，為我們宣講天國之道，向我們顯示祢的慈顏，祢的救恩。
主基督，感謝祢的愛，祢為完成主交付給祢的使命，為愛及拯救我們而受盡身心社靈的痛苦，請原諒我們的軟弱，自私，貪戀逸樂。求天父寬恕我們，助佑我們遠離罪惡，重回天父的懷抱。🙏
當我們成為罪惡的奴隸時，一次又一次、重複地把祢拋諸腦後，令祢悲傷和失望，求你賜我們一顆煥發更新的心，莫再冥頑不靈地傷透祢的心，讓我們惦記著祢的深情大愛，懂得以愛還愛去報答祢，求主莫記究我們的過犯！因主耶穌基督。亞孟。
Now I have a better understanding of God presence in my life that I have been praying for.
He knows me and shares my life.
在這戰火重燃, 疫症肆虐的日子, 耶穌眼看我們人類自相殘殺, 他會是多傷難過? 他怎可會坐視不顧?但是他要我們先去求祂, 要我先伸出援手。是嗎?
I can feel the embrace and love of Jesus my Lord in today’s reflection. How can I love Him in return? Only by denying myself & crucify my ego, not being self-centered. Take up my cross & follow Him!
主求袮教我去愛袮，能靜下來，與袮交談，安慰袮被世人傷透的心。
小時候的我，從來感受不到耶穌的人性。長大了開始接觸到耶穌是真人的道理，祂有人性的一面，耶穌悲慟拉匝祿的死亡是其中一個例子，而耶穌山園祈禱表露的人性軟弱又是另一例子。每一個片段都讓我感受到耶穌好想親近我們，用祂的人性直接流露祂的感受，又或間接觸動我們的心靈。
我自問是一個喊包，我深深感受到每當我流淚的時候，其實表露了我在這件事情或人身上所感受到的愛而流露出來的。試想我們都渴望知道和確定自己的愛人擔心、着緊我們，那種甜蜜的感覺，多麼美妙！感謝主耶穌作我們的愛人，擔心、着緊我們，為我們流淚。讓我們投進祢的懷裏，甜蜜地擁抱祢、讚美你！
感謝主耶穌為世人贖罪獻身拯救大地！🙏🙏🙏
主耶穌，請注視我，你慈悲的眼神叫我依靠祢，遠離罪惡。
藉今日分享的片段，猛然感受到基督的感受，祂著緊與各人獨特的關係！求主開啓我領悟之門使我回頭去關心和著緊祢！
我的软弱，不停的被诱惑，一直是耶稣的牵挂。求主时时提醒我，你也需要我的关注和理解。、
主耶穌，感謝您在我最無助的時候便會扶持我，感謝您願意感受我的悲傷，願光榮歸於父，及子及聖神，起初如何，今日亦然，直到永遠，亞孟🙏🏻🙏🏻