"Today, fifth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with the resurrection of Lazarus (cf. Jn 11:1- 45). It is the last of Jesus' miracles narrated before Easter; we can say, therefore, that we are at the culmination of his 'signs,'" Pope Francis began by saying before praying the Marian prayer of the Angelus from the window of the study of the Vatican Apostolic Palace in St. Peter's Square.
"Lazarus is a dear friend of Jesus, who knows that he is about to die," but when he arrives home, all hope is lost: he has already died and been buried, the Holy Father continued.
However, "his presence kindles a little confidence in the hearts of the sisters, Martha and Mary. "They, in the midst of their pain, cling to this light. Jesus invites them to have faith, and asks them to open the tomb. Then he prays to the Father, and then cries out to Lazarus, 'Come out!' He comes back to life and comes out.
The Pope appreciates a "clear message: Jesus gives life even when it seems that there is no more hope. It sometimes happens that one feels hopeless, or that one meets people who no longer have hope, because of a painful loss, an illness, a cruel disappointment, an injustice or a betrayal suffered, a serious mistake made. Sometimes we hear people say: 'There is nothing more to be done.
"We are not alone in the dark."
These are moments in which "life resembles a closed sepulcher: all is darkness, all around is only pain and despair. But "today Jesus tells us that it is not like that, that in those moments we are not alone, indeed, that it is precisely in those moments that He becomes closer than ever to give us life anew," the Pope said.
"He weeps with us, as he wept for Lazarus". At the same time, however, "Jesus invites us not to stop believing and hoping, not to let ourselves be discouraged by negative feelings. He approaches our tombs and says to us, as he did then: 'Roll away the stone!' Take out all that is inside, place it before me with confidence, without fear, because I am with you, I love you and I want you to live again. And, like Lazarus, repeat to each one of us: 'Come out! Get up, get back on the road, regain your confidence.
Jesus tells us, "I am with you!"
Drawing on the memory of each person's childhood, the Holy Father conveyed the message of Jesus: "I take you by the hand, as when you were a child learning to take your first steps. Remove the bandages that bind you, do not give in to the pessimism that depresses, to the fear that isolates, to the discouragement caused by the memory of bad experiences, to the fear that paralyzes. I want you free and alive, I do not abandon you, I am with you! Do not let yourself be imprisoned by pain, do not let hope die: live again!" he exclaimed.
This passage, found in chapter 11 of John's Gospel, "which does us much good to read, is a hymn to life, and we read it when Easter is near," the Pope reiterated. "Perhaps we too now carry in our hearts some weight or some suffering that seems to crush us. It is time to remove the stone and go out to meet Jesus who is near."
And as usual, the Holy Father raised some questions: "Are we capable of opening our hearts and entrusting our worries to him, of opening the tomb of our problems and looking beyond the threshold, towards his light? And, in our turn, as little mirrors of God's love, do we succeed in illuminating the environments in which we live with words and gestures of life? Do we witness to the hope and joy of Jesus?"
"May Mary, Mother of hope, renew in us the joy of not feeling alone and the call to bring light to the darkness that surrounds us," he concluded, before praying the Angelus.
Ukraine, Mississippi, Turkey and Syria, Peru, Turkey and Syria.
After the recitation of the Marian prayer, Pope Francis revealed that "yesterday, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, we have renewed consecration to the Immaculate Heart of MaryWe are confident that the way to peace will be opened. Let us continue to pray for the suffering Ukrainian people".
The Roman Pontiff also prayed that "we remain close to those who have suffered from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, collaborating with parishes, and also pray for the people of Mississippi devastated by a tornado" in the United States.
The Pope also greeted the Romans and pilgrims from many countries, "especially from Spain, Madrid and Pamplona, and also Mexicans and Peruvians, renewing the prayer for reconciliation in Peru, so that it may have peace".
