The account of the raising of Lazarus has many layers to it. It is striking just how honest and truthful the whole episode is. As we
saw earlier in the week, the pain and grief of the sisters are not hidden, the anguish of Jesus is not hidden, and the crowds’ response is palpable.
Martha says bluntly to Jesus that she is disappointed that he delayed getting there. She says that her brother has started to decay! Jesus, too is honest. He answers with an exacting question: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
In the Lenten period, we are invited to grapple with the truth and be honest with ourselves. Unfortunately, we live in a society and dispensation in South Africa that, in recent years, has been eroded by dishonesty. Lies, distortion and corruption, have become our daily bread.
As a result, there is little truth and honesty in our societal discourse.
The same happens to us. When we live in a milieu of untruth and dishonesty,
we can easily absorb the culture around us. It is easy for, what St Ignatius calls, the “bad spirit” to work. It could be in a professional matter, lifestyle or pattern of behaviour that we have begun to believe it is acceptable to sacrifice the truth.
Lent invites us to confront ourselves. It is fundamentally a season in which we are invited to look in the mirror and see how we have distorted the truth of who we are – people made in the image and likeness of God - through our attitudes and actions. Lent invites us to conversion, to look at where untruth or dishonesty has taken root in us and allow the Lord’s call to usher us back into
the light of truth and honesty.
Take time to ask yourself today: Where have I discovered untruth or dishonesty in my life this Lent? What has made me feel
uncomfortable? How is the Lord inviting me back into the light of truth and honesty?
