The victory of life

Martha and Mary (Jn 11,1-44)

We are at our second meeting with Marta and Maria. Last month the evangelist Luke accompanied us to their house where we met his brother Lazarus, teaching us the two ways of relating to Jesus. Today, however, the evangelist John projects us before the triumph of life over death.

“The one you love is sick”: a worried message that the sisters send to Jesus to invite him to help their seriously ill friend. Jesus' response is strange, he does not appear at all pressured and remained where he was for another two days, limiting himself to stating: "This illness will not lead to death, but it is for the glory of God so that through it the Son of God be glorified." Jesus' only concern seems to be that of attracting the greatest possible number of disciples to himself to give glory to the Father, in reality he wants to guide them to true faith, as he then explains to Martha when she meets him and reproaches him "if had you been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God He will give you”; a rebuke accompanied by a profound faith that Jesus wants to make even purer. Jesus reassures her: “Your brother will rise again”. And Martha professes her faith in the resurrection "on the last day". At this point Jesus proclaims his truth to lead his friend to the deepest, most existential faith: “I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live; whoever lives and believes in me will never die." And he concludes with the question full of love that urges his friend to the deepest truth: "Do you believe this?". Martha responds with all firmness and joy: “Yes, O Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world”.

After having accomplished his task of giving death the true meaning of passage to eternal life, Jesus leaves room for human feelings and asks to be led to the tomb: a cave sealed by a stone. “He burst into tears… deeply moved” and asks to open the tomb, regardless of the bad smell of the now “four-day-old” corpse, as Martha tells him that Jesus recalls the need to believe: “I didn't tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” and, raising your eyes to heaven, “Father, I thank you for listening to me. I knew well that you always listen to me, but I said it for the people around so that they may believe that you sent me." Having said this, in a loud voice he ordered Lazarus to come out and he came out, still wrapped in bandages. He entrusts him to those present so that they can free him and let him go.

His union with the Father is such that his Word is heard before having pronounced it; he commanded death, siding against the one who tries to dominate it. With his prayer, Jesus wanted to demonstrate to all those present his profound union with the Father, to open those present to faith and lead us to an examination of our faith, strengthening it.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, he will live…”.

“Do you believe this?”. Martha responds with all firmness and joy: “Yes, O Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world”

Anna Maria Del Prete

NP Agosto-Settembre 2023