The one you love is sick.

Some thoughts prompted by the times and the Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Lent.
(I suggest you first read John 11:1-45)

In this Gospel Mary and Martha send a message to Jesus : "Lord, the one you love is sick."  Jesus was close friends with this family, so the message that the sisters sent was more likely, "Lord, Lazarus is sick."  John, however, in telling the story for purposes of his Gospel has their message say, "the one you love."  That's our whole human race.  We are all "the one Jesus loves," and we are sick.

Jesus doesn't act immediately.  He delays.  When Jesus does get to Bethany and sees his friends Mary and Martha crying he starts to cry himself.  Those who see him crying say, "See how much he loved him."  But others say,, "If he really loved Lazarus, why didn't he keep him from dying?"  If Jesus really loves us, why didn't he prevent this illness that threatens us all?

Jesus loves our human race with a love that never runs out.  His love is powerful enough to bring Lazarus out of his tomb.  If the love of Jesus can bring a man back from the dead, his love can certainly destroy  this evil.

We beg Jesus, "Unbind us, and let us go free.  If only you were here."  Jesus is always here, living in us and around us, binding us to one another.  He always acts, sometimes when we want it, but always when we need it.