Florida Catholic | Editorial

Still time this Lent to remove the stone

Published: 03.14.08

As we enter Passion Sunday and Holy Week, we recall the Gospel reading from Laetare Sunday last week. In that well-known story, Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead, at the behest of his friend, Martha, Lazarus’ sister. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” she tells him. This is Martha, the practical one, who when Jesus visited, busied herself with duties of the home as Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to hear him teach. Jesus tells Martha that even greater glory will come than her brother not dying.

“Take away the stone,” Jesus tells them at Lazarus’ tomb. But they tell him that there will surely be a stench. And he tells them to do it anyway, and calls Lazarus to come forth. The dead man, bound in burial cloths, walks out of his darkness, into the light of renewed life.

This story speaks deeply to us about our journey through Lent and Holy Week. Reflect on it again as you prepare to commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and follow him through the events of his Passion.

First: “Take away the stone.” What stones weigh you down? The stones of sin can be heavy. Jesus can lift these burdens from you — that’s why he suffered all the indignities of scourging, the crown of thorns, the nails in his hands and feet, and his pierced side.

The stones of sin you carry are the reason he died on the cross. So take time before Easter to take away the stone. Avail yourself of the sacrament of reconciliation.

Many parishes will offer the sacrament during Holy Week and the days leading up to it. Several parishes in the Diocese of Orlando will set aside two days, March 14 and 15, during which sacrament will be offered Friday evening and most of the day Saturday.

Second: “Surely there will be a stench.” How many times have you left something in your refrigerator for so long that it grew mold and started to smell? Have you ever let your spiritual life get like that? When you leave your faith life alone — sealed in a container — with no nourishment and no attention, it gets stale. Daresay, it might even pick up the stench of death. What have you done lately to renew your prayer life? Take some time during Holy Week to “clean out” all those stale things in your faith fridge. Remove the stench and add some fresh ingredients to your spiritual menu.

Third: “Lazarus, come out.” Jesus was resurrected on Easter; Lazarus was revived from the dead. However, each of us is called to follow Jesus so that we may have eternal life with him. We all want to hear God calling us from our tombs: “Come out.” We each want to rejoice with our family and friends, as Martha and Mary did, that death is ended and life is renewed. Through our faith, we will have that opportunity in heaven.

Lent is not over. If you have been faithful in sacrificing through fasting, prayer and almsgiving and through improving your spiritual life, then you have likely experienced great growth on your journey through this season. If you have only had marginal success with the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of Lent, you still have the chance to make the most of Holy Week. There is time to cast off your stones, to freshen your spirit and to prepare to come out of your tomb. Take this opportunity to be ready for Easter.

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Still time this Lent to remove the stone

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