Beloved Father, why were the resurrections of the dead not enough to change the minds of the Pharisees? Shouldn’t a miracle of such magnitude make it clear that You are at work? What more must happen?
But we can already foresee Your answer, for You have given it to us through the testimony of Scripture. Even in the lives of the saints, it was not uncommon for the greatest miracles to fail to lead tyrants to repentance.
Thank God, however, that this is not always the case when You bestow Your presence upon us in such a tangible way. Through the raising of Lazarus, many people did indeed come to faith in the Lord. Please continue to grant us miracles; we are grateful for every sign. People need them—especially those who have not yet come to faith—so they may have hope of sharing in the resurrection at the end of time.
Through the path of the miracle, they must come to understand even more deeply that through true faith they are raised to eternal life. It is true faith that opens our eyes so that we may learn to see everything through Your eyes. Thus, inner death is transformed into life when Your grace is present in our lives. Above all, You bring us eternal life.
True life never dies. That is why You tell Saint Martha that You are the resurrection and the life. And grace guides us through time into eternity.
Therefore, we rejoice over the man who returned to life through Your word, and we praise Your goodness. Even more do we rejoice over the one who has been awakened from death to life through an encounter with You. And all of heaven rejoices!