Lazarus, Come out!

Tomb of Lazarus

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany..." (John 11:55).  Today, our Lord arrives at Bethany to pick a fight with our greatest foe, death itself.  We are 6 days away from the moment when Christ will meet death face to face on the cross and destroy it at His Resurrection.  Today, we get a foretaste of that victory.  He comes to the tomb of His beloved friend, Lazarus.  He declares that "I am the resurrection and the life" (Jn 11:25).  Then, with a loud voice, shouts like a warrior in battle to the enemy:  "Come out." Death cannot hold Love.  In a week, we will come to understand the power of that reality. 

This day has very ancient roots with a great festive nature. Sadly, most of Western Christianity has forgotten it.  One of the earliest mentions of its celebration is by the "traveling nun" Egeria.  This sister from Spain made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the 4th century and recorded in detail the many liturgies that occurred there throughout the year.  Here is her account of Lazarus Saturday:

"And when the morning of the Sabbath begins to dawn, the bishop offers the oblation. And at the dismissal the archdeacon lifts his voice and says: “Let us all be ready today at the seventh hour in the Lazarium (the tomb of Lazarus as seen above).” And so, as the seventh hour approaches, all go to the Lazarium, that is, Bethany, situated at about the second milestone from the city.


And as they go from Jerusalem to the Lazarium, there is, about five hundred paces from the latter place, a church in the street on that spot where Mary the sister of Lazarus met with the Lord. Here, when the bishop arrives, all the monks meet him, and the people enter the church, and one hymn and one antiphon are said, and that passage is read in the Gospel where the sister of Lazarus meets the Lord. Then, after prayer has been made, and when all have been blessed, they go thence with hymns to the Lazarium.

And on arriving at the Lazarium, so great a multitude assembles that not only the place itself, but also the fields around, are full of people. Hymns and antiphons suitable to the day and to the place are said, and likewise all the lessons are read. Then, before the dismissal, notice is given of Easter, that is, the priest ascends to a higher place and reads the passage that is written in the Gospel: When Jesus six days before the Passover had come to Bethany, and the rest. So, that passage having been read and notice given of Easter, the dismissal is made.

This is done on that day because, as it is written in the Gospel, these events took place in Bethany six days before the Passover; there being six days from the Sabbath to the fifth weekday on which, after supper, the Lord was taken by night. Then all return to the city direct to the Anastasis (the empty tomb of Christ), and lucernare takes place according to custom."

So, rejoice today. The Lord announces His battle plan that will culminate in His Resurrection.  Take a moment and read John 11, the raising of Lazarus.

Stay close to Him.