He Stayed?!
July 29, 2026
Fr. John Riccardo
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters went to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was (John 11:1-6).
Let’s try to picture this scene: Bethany is a haven for Jesus. So much so that now we commonly describe places of refuge, places where we experience refreshment, rest and hospitality, as “a Bethany.” The town is a haven for Jesus not because it has a spa or other things that we often associate with a place of refreshment today. It’s a haven because of the people there. And not the people in general, but three people especially: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Their home has come to be understood as a place where Jesus would retreat when He was in Jerusalem, a warm and inviting place that offered a welcome respite from the bustle of the city, not to mention the frequent and contentious interactions with the religious leaders there.
So, then, when Lazarus falls ill — an illness serious enough to merit calling for the Master, meaning Martha and Mary fear their brother is on the brink of dying — one would logically imagine that their dear friend, Jesus, who had healed so many men, women and children over the course of the past three years, would drop everything and head over to visit His friends.
In describing this scene, John reminds us, ”Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Therefore, the next verse must be, “And so He headed there and healed him.”
It doesn’t.
Instead, John writes, “So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”
What!? Surely, you are as confused and troubled by those words as I am. Is the English translation just plain wrong from the original Greek?
For many of us, I suppose, because this story is so well known to us, we don’t allow ourselves to linger with this disturbing verse. After all, we know that Jesus does end up going to Bethany. We know that He does end up going to His friends. And we know that He doesn’t simply heal Lazarus. He raises him from the dead.
But nothing in Scripture is there by accident. The Spirit inspired the words that the evangelists recorded for a purpose. So, then, we wisely ask the Spirit to teach us why. We wisely ask the Spirit to help us know God ever better, in all His mysterious ways. And they are mysterious. Chesterton’s great insight comes to mind for me again as I’m praying with this passage on today’s feast of Lazarus, Martha and Mary: “It is a perennial spiritual and emotional task to look at the familiar until it becomes unfamiliar again.” Let us not skip over this verse, eager to get to the glorious moment when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Instead, let us ask the Spirit of God to help us get into this scene, to watch the anguish of Martha and Mary, to say nothing of Lazarus, as their friend, Jesus, upon hearing the news that Lazarus is dying…doesn’t come.
Lazarus dies.
His sisters bury him.
And, if they’re anything like the rest of us, they must have had to deal with a whole gamut of emotions regarding the Lord and His not showing up.
Confusion.
Frustration.
Sadness.
Anger.
More than a few of us find ourselves right in situations that just don’t seem to make sense. More than a few of us, with deep faith in God, His goodness and faithfulness, just flat out don’t get what’s going on. The Lord’s ways are not our ways. We cannot often understand why He does what He does.
But God is good. He is Love. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. He doesn’t play games. Despite how it seems many times, He’s never late.
Do we believe this? May the prayers of the saints, who lived the same experiences we live each and every day, help us to trust ever more deeply, and to surrender ourselves to the Lord.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
July 2026
For the Church, that She may boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing liberty, healing, and hope to a wounded and broken world.
For our nation, as we celebrate 250 years of independence, that we may be grateful for the blessings we have received and strive to be agents of love, reconciliation, mercy, and healing in our respective spheres of influence.
For our time with the Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Los Angeles, as they celebrate the centennial of their presence in the United States, that this Jubilee year may renew them in their vocation, deepen their love for Jesus, and bear abundant fruit in the lives of all whom they serve.
For the Arise from the Ashes Revival in the Archdiocese of Detroit, that the Holy Spirit would pour out graces of renewal, hope, healing, and transformation upon all who participate.
For our Regional Leadership Immersive in the Diocese of Wichita, that our time together would bring further clarity to the mission of the Church and help to equip the people of God to be mobilized for mission.
For our Board of Directors, our benefactors, and all who support and pray for the mission of ACTS XXIX, that they may encounter the personal love of God and be abundantly blessed for their generosity, sacrifice, and faithful service.