Wednesday, May 13 : Saint John Chrysostom

“And he said: ‘Where have you laid him?’” These words of the Lord do not mean that he was ignorant of the place where Lazarus had been buried; rather, he wished to test the faith of those people. Moreover, the Lord did not wish to draw attention to himself, but rather desired to abide by what the others had said, and to do nothing except in response to their request, so as to leave them no room for doubt. This question of the Savior is also like a symbol of our calling, which unfolds in secret, since the divine choosing of our vocation is something hidden. The sign of its hiddenness is that very question which the Lord asked concerning the matter, as though he did not know it, whereas it is we who are ignorant of it… Or perhaps because elsewhere the Lord declared that he does not know the sinners to whom he says: “I never knew you” (Mt 7:23), because they commit sins apart from the law and its teachings. “They said to him: ‘Lord, come and see.’” At that point, he had not yet performed any miracle of resurrection; therefore, it seemed to them that he was going toward Lazarus’ tomb in order to weep for him, not to raise him from the dead. And so they said to him: “Come and see.” Indeed, the Lord is rich in mercy, and for this reason the Psalmist said: “Look upon my misery and my suffering, and forgive all my sins” (Ps 25[24]:18).

maronite readings – rosary,team