MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #408

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre. Now it was a cave; and a stone was laid over it. Jesus saith: "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to him: "Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he is now of four days." Jesus saith to her: "Did not I say to thee that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?" They took therefore the stone away. And Jesus lifting up his eyes, said: "Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people who stand about have I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." When he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice: "Lazarus, come forth." And presently he that had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with winding bands. And his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: "Loose him and let him go." Many therefore of the Jews, who were come to Mary and Martha and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus had done. The chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees gathered a council and said: "What do we, for this man doth many miracles? If we let him alone so, all will believe in him; and the Romans will come, and take away our place and nation." But one of them, named Caiphas, being the high priest that year, said to them: "You know nothing. Neither do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not." And this he spoke not of himself: but being the high priest of that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation. And not only for the nation, but to gather together in one the children of God that were dispersed. From that day therefore they devised to put him to death. (John 11:38-53)

THE CAUSES OF UNBELIEF: The impressions produced by the miracle of the raising of Lazarus from the dead were very different. Many believed in Him now who had not believed before; and for them the miracle worked salvation. The Pharisees and their followers could not deny the fact of the miracle, but they believed none the more in our Lord's divine mission, and the wonderful miracle only served to harden them in their obstinate incredulity--once more grace knocked at their hearts for the last time by the means of this stupendous miracle which even they could not deny; but so blinded were they by their hatred and envy of Jesus, that they resisted and shut out the true knowledge of Him which was, as it were, forced on them. They had to admit that our Lord did "many miracles;" but this undeniable fact so increased their hatred, that they could not even bring themselves to pronounce His name, but called Him "this man." Though they owned that He worked the miracles they did not draw the logical conclusion that therefore they must believe in Him, but, on the contrary, the illogical conclusion that therefore they must kill Him! However wonderful the miracles He might work, one thing was certain, they would not believe in Him! The Messiah must die, or else their own position would be injured, and their hypocrisy unmasked! "If we let Him alone," said they, "all men will believe in Him." They even wished to put Lazarus to death, "because many of the Jews by reason of him went away and believed in Jesus" (John 12:11). Pride, envy and love of power combined to blind these men, and destroy their souls by reason of their unbelief. Pride and envy are capital sins.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)