A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
(John 11: 1-45)
The two sisters of Lazarus sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, Lazarus your friend is ill.” After Jesus received this message he said to the disciples, “This illness will not end in death but in God’s glory. Through Lazarus’ illness the Son of God will receive glory.” Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. But after Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was for two more days. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go to Judea.” Jesus arrived in Bethany and found that Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb four days. Many Jews came to see Martha and Mary to comfort them because of their brother’s death. Martha heard that Jesus had come, she went out to meet him. Mary stayed sitting at home. Martha said to Jesus, “If If you had been here, my brother would never have died. But I know even now God will give you anything you want.” Jesus said, “Your brother will rise to life.” Martha said, “I know he will rise to life in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Any person that believes in me will have life after death. And the person that lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? Martha said, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, yet come into the world.
Jesus saw Mary crying, and the Jews also crying; Jesus was upset and felt deep sorrow in his heart. Jesus said, “Where have you put Lazarus?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. The Jews said, “Look, Jesus truly loved Lazarus.” But others said, “He opened the eyes of the blind man and cured him. Why could he not stop Lazarus dying?” Still deeply upset, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave with a large stone covering it. Jesus said, “Move away the stone.” Martha said, “Lord, Lazarus has been buried four days. The smell will be bad.” Jesus said, “Remember what I told you, that if you believe, you will see God’s glory.”
So they moved away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. I know that you always listen to me. But I say that for the people here, so that they will believe that you sent me. After he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out. His hands and feet were tied with strips of cloth and a cloth covered his face. Jesus said to the people, “Remove the cloths and let him go free.”
Many of the Jews that had come to visit Mary, saw what had happened and they believed in Jesus.
The Gospel of the Lord.