6 April 2020
Monday of Holy Week
Lazarus Laughed is a play by Eugene O’Neill written in 1925. It portrays the Chief priests wanting to kill Lazarus again, as we hear in the Gospel today. When Lazarus hears about this, he begins to laugh, “ha ha ha”, because he knows that there is no death. Then the story goes on to depict how Lazarus hears about the death of Jesus upon the cross. Again, Lazarus laughs, “ha ha ha.” Lazarus laughs because he has discovered the greatness of Jesus in conquering death. He had seen the Lord as his light and his salvation as echoed in today’s Psalm. Lazarus laughs because he saw that death is not victorious as our Lord conquers death and gives a new spirit of resurrection. In the first reading, we hear the prophet Isaiah say “the Lord gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it. I, the Lord have called you for the victory of justice.” Lazarus knows that Isaiah’s Yahweh is Jesus Christ who has the power to conquer death and give the new breath of life.
In the Gospel, we hear that Jesus was in Bethany, six days before Passover. In other words, Jesus has only six days before he will die on the cross. Jesus knows that these are the last six days of his life. His visit to Bethany might be his goodbye visit to his friends, Mary, and Martha. But more importantly, Jesus comes to Bethany in order to revive the memory of the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus, who had been raised to life, signifies those who have been brought from sin to a new life through the power of Christ’s resurrection. Moreover, a large crowd of Jews also come to see Lazarus. In St. Thomas Aquinas’s commentary of The Gospel of John explained that there are two reasons why the crowd came. First, to recall the extraordinary miracle of the raising of Lazarus. Second, they were hoping to learn something about life after death from Lazarus. So, some of the reasons that the chief priests wanted to kill Lazarus again is because all of the Jews came to Bethany to see Lazarus while disregarding the solemnities of Passover.
As Lazarus faced death, he laughed. Perhaps all us can learn from the wisdom of Lazarus amid the coronavirus outbreak. Of course, we need to be vigilant and to protect ourselves and our families, but we can laugh at this virus for at least two reasons. First, we can laugh about how a small virus can easily overwhelm human beings with all our technological progress. We human beings believed that we could use science and technology to become masters of the universe, but the fact of the matter is we can be so easily overpowered by a small virus. Second, we can laugh at the coronavirus because we know that this tiny virus cannot overcome the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The coronavirus indeed brings death, but Jesus Christ has conquered death with his resurrection.
Perhaps in the time of lockdown, quarantine, and shelter in place, we can reflect about the kinds of humor or laughter we can share amid the coronavirus outbreak. If you are in a somber tone or different mood, perhaps you can reflect on whether you still believe that there is the great hope of the resurrection of Jesus. Or, simply pray that the Gospel may speak to you personally today. Lastly, speak to Jesus about whatever you have in mind today.