Delay Tactics (2011-04-10, Lent)

This is my homily for Sunday, 10 April 2011. I am a Catholic chaplain at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister [Mary] and Lazarus. So when he heard that he [Lazarus] was ill, he remained for two days where he was.” (John 11: __)

[__01__] This is the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus. In John, chapter 11, Jesus receives word that Lazarus is ill.

Now, the usual response is rapid to such a crisis or sorrow or illness or terminal illness. Rapidly, quickly do we pack our suitcase, make travel plans, we get on the road.

But, there is a delay in this Gospel, before Jesus actually sets out from his current location to and travels to Bethany.

[__02__] What is the result of a delay in our lives?

2 possible results:
• Send people away [OR]
• Attract attention of people.

Traffic jams, rain and snow, these things cause people to stay home or go elsewhere. Or, consider a class where the teacher runs late (I am not suggesting this ever happens at FDU Fairleigh Dickinson…). But, if students were to see the professor arrive late, some of them would arrive a little later too. The delay can send people away

On the other hand, sometimes, delays can attract attention.

Such as when a President or Prime Minister arrives or arrives late. The crowd will hang around.

[__03__] And, the Lord wants to attract a crowd in this Gospel, showing up four days later, this guarantees that there will be many people –

• Present
• Observing what he does

And, in this case, observing does not necessarily mean “approving”. Jesus attracts some negative attention here.

[Example of the disapproving remarks which follow - John 11:46-48]

Some of those who observe the miraculous raising of Lazarus are also those who oppose Jesus, those who will condemn him, have him arrested, the Pharisees.

This is part of Jesus’ intentional delay tactic, delay strategy, to attract attention not only to those who believe in him, but also from those who will ultimately condemn him and oppose him.

[__04__] Also, Jesus demonstrates – by this delay – his own freedom, his own discernment and evaluation of the crisis, the crisis of death ..not only for the party of 3 in Bethany (the siblings of Martha, Mary, Lazarus) but also the crisis of death for all of us.

Martha and Mary ask him about his postponement, his delayed departure and arrival, saying,

“Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21; John 11:32)

[__05__] Martha and Mary profess their faith/confidence in this statement. Martha and Mary also express their lament, their complaint ..

On one level, Jesus is motivated to solve this problem for Martha and Mary, to turn things around for them, to bring back Lazarus.

We sometimes find ourselves doing the same thing – we respond – or act according to the anxieties of others or the anxieties that we ourselves have.

Jesus is trying to show his own freedom and power over life and death. To do what he has discerned is necessary … for Martha and Mary and for us.

By this miracle Jesus not only wants to show explicitly his power over life and death for all of us.

[__06__] Sometimes, we may pray and wonder where the Lord is in our lives. We may also pray, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died. This sorrow would not have affected me.”

The apostles make a similar plea to Jesus, during an episode on the sea of Galilee on the boat (cf. Mark 4:35-41). On the boat and in the storm, the disciples are bailing out water and worried about the waves crashing over the side of the boat. Meanwhile the Lord – who must be a pretty heavy sleeper – is sound asleep on a cushion in the stern.

So, the disciples call out to him, loudly enough to wake Jesus, “Lord do you not care that we are perishing.” (cf. Mark 4:35-41)

Don’t we also pray the same way – to God –
• If you had been here…
• Do you not care…
• Do you not care about me.

And, we experience a delay in our lives.

This Gospel is a reminder to us, to continue to pray, to wait on the Lord’s goodness in our lives, even if there is a delay involved.

Martha and Mary – those who mourn – continue to pray, continue to reach out to Jesus in their crisis. And, aren’t we sometimes inspired by those who we observe mourning, grieving … those who persevere in their prayer after the death of someone they love.

[__07__] Also, this Gospel reminds us of perseverance in not only PRAYER ..but also perseverance in our SERVICE/ACTION.

Yes ..Jesus is delayed ..but he is not going to be discouraged by the anxiety of others, nor is he discouraged – or deterred – because this miracle will later get him in trouble … not all the observers wanted Jesus to be triumphant over death.

Jesus, perceived as dangerous, knows of this perception, his reputation. A quiet healing miracle – perhaps during the illness of Lazarus would have kept him off the hook.

We may be delayed in serving others ..and this delay does not always make us popular.

Children are called to serve their parents; parents to serve their children…

And, in this way, the “observers” may become anxious about you or me.

People will want us to deliver – to produce – to serve – as quickly as possible.

[__08__] In the delayed delivery of the Good News, Jesus shows his freedom, his freedom to be generous…but also his freedom from being backed into a corner…

In the delay, we also discover the freedom to discover – to discern our true calling and responsibilities.

And, through this Gospel, we learn that it is not too late to start…

That we can go out to meet him, that we can begin our journey to Bethany to meet the Lord, to meet the Lord today or maybe in a few days from now… [__end__]