April 6, 2014: 5th Sunday of Lent

We might be able to roll back some stone which blocks another from living fully by saying a kind or uplifting word to someone who appears sad or discouraged or lonely.

So Jesus came to the tomb of Lazarus.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him,
“Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone.
And Jesus raised his eyes and said,
“Father, I thank you for hearing me.
I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”
And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. (Excerpt from the Gospel of John 11:38-45)

Reflection:

Obviously, no one reading this can raise someone from the dead.
However, anyone reading it might be able to roll back some stone which blocks another from living fully.
A classmate or co-worker may need a word of encouragement, an invitation to participate in an activity or someone just to stick up for them.

Action:

Each day this week try to say a kind or uplifting word to someone who appears sad or discouraged or lonely.