Lazarus, Come Forth!

Overview

The raising of Lazarus in John's Gospel is one of the most dramatic and poignant episodes in scripture. While traditionally read as a story about friendship and faith, Dear shows through his extended meditations how it also summarizes the persistent theme of the Gospel. If Lazarus represents humanity, the story of his raising is about the God of Life confronting the power of death itself, calling humanity to walk out of its tomb--the culture of violence and war--and into "the new life of resurrection peace."

According to Dear, the Gospel urges us to carry on this liberating work of Jesus today: to remove the stone that traps us in violence, to call each other out of our tombs, to unbind one another and set each other free to live in peace. In doing so, we will fulfill our vocations as disciples of Jesus and enter the fullness of life today.

John Dear is a priest, activist, lecturer, and author of thirty books including Thomas Merton Peacemaker; You Will Be My Witnesses (with art by William Hart McNichols), Mohandas Gandhi: Essential Writings; Daniel Berrigan: Essential Writings and an autobiography, A Persistent Peace (Doubleday/Image) and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He lives in California. www.fatherjohndear.org