Martha and Mary nursed Lazarus thourgh his final illness, death and burial. The two sisters knew that they had sent an accurate message to Jesus, telling Him of the imminence of their brother’s death. They also knew that if Jesus and the apostles were to travel immediately, they would see Lazarus before he died. When Jesus eventually arrived, Martha and Mary were not only mourning their brother, they were also bitterly hurt that Jesus had made so little effort to be with His close friends when they most needed Him. That is why Martha’s words express both a reproach and a hope that Jesus could still do something. It took the raising of Lazarus from the dead for Martha to understand that Jesus possessed the power over life and death that pertains only to God. When Jesus restored life to Lazarus and returned him to his family, He also hinted at His own resurrection. Just as He changed the sorrow of Martha and Mary into joy, so Jesus’ victory over death would give new meaning and hope to life. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a foretaste of the impact that His resurrection will make in our own lives. We are accompanying a living Jesus, whose ongoing love is alive and active.