Text of the week

“Jesus wept”. This is perhaps the shortest verse in the Bible, just two short words but words of great significance for us.

They come from Chapter 11 of John’s Gospel which tells the wonderful story of the raising of Lazarus. I think it shows us a very human side to Jesus as he weeps over the death of his friend Lazarus.

Jesus had gone to be with Martha and Mary to be with them in their grief.

Like many of us when we lose our loved ones, Martha and Mary feel let down by Jesus. Each of them in turn said Jesus, “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died”.

However, as we know Jesus went on to raise Lazarus from the dead and in doing so he prefigured his own resurrection to eternal glory. For us, who like Lazarus and his

sisters are friends of Jesus, we too believe and hope in the resurrection to new life

which is one for us by the passion and death of Jesus.

As we draw closer to the great feast of Easter, let us be comforted knowing that God will never abandon us but will indeed cause all to share in the glory of the resurrection to eternal life.

Fr Jamie Boyle,

St Francis Xavier, Falkirk