“Lazarus has died.
And I am glad for you that I was not there,
that you may believe. “

John 11:14-15

John 11:1-45

Reflection

Today’s Gospel relates how Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. After hearing the news that his good friend is dying, Jesus waits a few days and then goes to him when he has already died, so that he may perform a great miracle and others may believe.

Jesus reveals a lot about himself in the Gospel that can help us understand his divine will for our redemption. Jesus tells his disciples that he allowed Lazarus to die in order for them to believe. He allowed a great suffering, death, to occur, in order to benefit others.

When we experience suffering in our lives, there is a benefit that will come from it – we may not know what the benefit is until later, or perhaps the grace from our suffering is meant for someone else. Regardless, the Lord shows that even a suffering such as death is not without a reason.

We can all profit from learning to suffer well and offer it up for the greater glory of God. While Christ does not enjoy that we suffer, he can use it to help us and others. How can you suffer well today?

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Saint of the Day

St. Nicholas Owen: died 1606

“I verily think no man can be said to have done more good of all those who laboured in the English vineyard. He was the immediate occasion of saving the lives of many hundreds of persons, both ecclesiastical and secular.” Fr. Henry Garnet speaking of St. Nicholas