Come Out! Be Unbound!

Carmelite homily for Sunday, March 29, 2020 – Lectionary 34 (John 11:1-45)

We know Saint Therese because of her autobiography, A Story of a Soul, but she also would write to priests.  That was her mission – to support priests – especially the newly-ordained who went out on mission.  One wrote to her with scruples and feelings of inadequacy and she replies to him, “Do not waste these days of sunshine hiding in the dark of fear and anxiety.”  Great advice – for everybody.  Today we have Lazarus coming out of the tomb.  And I think we need to come out of the tomb also.  Because our tombs are oftentimes fear and anxiety.  Why do I always have to have the last word?  Fear and anxiety.  Why do I have to control everybody around me?  Fear and anxiety.  Why do I have to …. Fear and anxiety.  Jesus tells Lazarus, “Come out!” and he tells us, “Come out!  And be unbound!” from fear and anxiety.