Funeral Homily on Lazarus

Reading John 11:17-27

In our scripture reading today we heard about Jesus going to visit a family who were bereaved. Lazarus, Martha and Mary were brothers and sisters, but Lazarus had just died and Martha and Mary were grieving. Jesus grieved too. The extract that we read today did not include it, but it is this story that includes the shortest verse in the whole bible; the famous words “Jesus wept”.

Jesus knows what it is to suffer the loss of a loved one. Jesus knows what it is to weep. And this is very strange because the story shows us Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life, as the one who conquers death. At the end of this story Jesus calls Lazarus back from the dead and restores him to life once again. But he does not do this until after he has wept, after he has suffered the pain of separation that death brings about.

So as we morn today, let us remember Jesus. Let us welcome him as Martha and Mary did. Let us know that he weeps with us, as he wept for Lazarus. Let us be confident that Jesus is the one who has conquered death. Let us place our hope in Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life.