by Sr. Rhânella Oliveira
If you prefer, watch the recorded video by clicking here: https://youtu.be/xDJ5eVnEubE
Hello, everyone!
On this 5th Sunday of Lent, the Gospel of John, which recounts the resurrection of Lazarus, is for me an invitation to contemplate the deep and true friendship between Jesus and the three siblings.
The context is one of death and suffering. Even so, John does not speak of despair or the turmoil that would be understandable in such a moment. Martha and Mary grieve the death of Lazarus, yet they remain at peace. And here lies one of the great lessons of this biblical passage, something so scarce and so needed in today’s world: peace.
Not the absence of pain or challenges, but the serenity and trust of those who build a solid friendship with Jesus.
True peace illuminates the heart and prevents us from being overwhelmed by our own pain. This is clearly seen in the two sisters, who do not receive Jesus with accusations or demands. They acknowledge that His presence could have saved their brother, but they do not hold Him responsible for the loss. They simply allow Him to share in their sorrow, to weep with them, without demanding answers.
What we see here is intimacy without losing reverence. A genuine relationship.
This teaches us so much. Relationships with Jesus have become increasingly superficial, often reduced to rituals and repetition. And the same happens between people: distant interactions, polite coexistence, but without real connection.
The individualism that grows from this becomes fertile ground for so many fractures. Because wars do not begin in the world or between nations. They begin in the empty, wounded hearts of those who grow accustomed to living in superficiality and selfishness.
Only a true friendship with Jesus can free us from this darkness that so often dwells within us and robs us of peace. It was this friendship that allowed the siblings to endure their pain with trust and, later, to celebrate the victory of life.
May we, today, learn this beautiful lesson from Lazarus, Martha, and Mary: true friendship with Jesus fills our hearts with peace and draws us out of loneliness, so that we may truly become brothers and sisters to one another.
