Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in Green Bay, WI
Reflection for March 29, 2020

Reflection for March 29, 2020

Again and again and again

Jesus never gives up in His pursuit of us 

by Renae Bauer

“Lazarus, come out!” ~ John 11:43

Jesus goes to great lengths in Sunday’s Gospel to teach his disciples in Jerusalem and Bethany that He is the Son of God. First, he uses a metaphor: “If one walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble because he sees the light of the world.” Then he’s more direct: “I am the resurrection and the life” and “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” Finally, when talking doesn’t work, Jesus does the impossible: He raises Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus is persistent in His pursuit of us. He will try again and again and again to draw us near, to help us see God’s goodness. If you doubt or struggle in your faith, keep trying. If you have loved ones who haven’t been there in a while, keep praying and inviting. Jesus hasn’t given up and neither should we.   

7 Comments

Mary M Freeman
03/27/2020 7:08 am

Renae, beautiful reflection - never give up bringing someone to Jesus. Family members need prayer right now during this crisis. Jesus heals, fills our hearts with his love and walks with us. He is an awesome God.

Father Bill jacobs
03/27/2020 8:05 am

Very nice, Sister! Very soothing during this difficult time.

God Bless you & all the Good Sisters..

In Christ's Never-ending Love, Father Bill Jacobs

Marie
03/27/2020 10:46 am

All you cling to me I will deliver! Cling to our Lord & and He will keep you safe!

Loretta Derocher
03/27/2020 10:50 am

Dear Renae,

Thank you for your reflection. I loved your words, "He (Jesus) will try again and again and again to draw us near..." Jesus will always pursue us and bring us back to Life. That is Who He is. Thank you for helping us to anticipate our Lazarus moment.

With deepest prayers and love to the Sisters, Associates and to YOU!

Loretta

Sr. Rose Jochmann
03/27/2020 11:31 am

Thank you, Renae. Very appropriate reflection!

Linda
03/27/2020 12:03 pm

[John 11:1-45] Oh, Mystery beyond mysteries .... how intriguing the Love-Life relationship between JESUS and his friends really is! Both sisters, Mary and Martha, plead with JESUS: "Master, the one you love is ill." In another one of John's accounts, another friend and follower of JESUS is also referred to as, "the one Jesus loved," (Jn: 20:2). This tells us that when JESUS and another have a Love-Life relationship going on, it's apparent to others. If we are curious seekers of Truth-Love-Life, we can't help but notice, and we wonder, "What is that all about?"

So, we listen more attentively to the story. We look for clues.

One thing I notice is that each sister, from a different place and different time in the story, make it known to JESUS that they are particularly hurt and disappointed, fraught with a feeling of betrayal, perhaps, that JESUS didn't come when they first sent word to him that Lazarus was ill. In fact, JESUS purposefully and mindfully waits. Not only does JESUS deliberately chose to wait, but he even chooses to 'play with' the meaning of the words, "asleep" and "death," intentionally interchanging them. Our curious minds ask, "Why? What is JESUS, 'the Teacher,' trying to tell us?

JESUS, in this Sunday's account, one week before Passion Sunday, and two weeks before we hear of Resurrection, chooses to act in what we would consider a slow manner. We, like Mary, Martha, and the other friends and followers of JESUS, ask, "Why, JESUS? Why are you taking your time with us? What is it that you want us to learn? To see? To understand more deeply? What was that 'life-below-the-surface' that you and your Abba-Father-GOD knew full well?"

What does life-below-the-surface look like? What is life without boulders and wrappings / trappings blocking the Light like? Can we, too, begin to 'see?'

Cheryl Mader
03/27/2020 5:23 pm

Thank you for your good thoughts. Jesus doesn't give up on us. Thanks be to God.

Stay safe all you Sisters...and a special hello to my dear aunt Sr. Paulette.

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