Meditation on Lazarus

By Mary D.
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During this time of year, Christians read and meditate on the story of Lazarus, the dead man brought back to life by Jesus (Jn 11). This miracle contains lessons and truths for everyone, but for me it speaks to issues of addiction and the miracle of recovery in a special way.

The story begins when the family of Lazarus sent Jesus this message: "Lord, the one whom you love is sick." This message could be sent to the Lord about any loved one who is trapped in alcoholism or other addiction: My loved one is sick; he is going down. No human power can restore him — we need you, Lord. The Lord loves each of us personally, deeply, just as He loved Lazarus. When we pray for the addicted, we are sending the message: "Lord, the one whom you love is sick."

When Jesus received the message He said, "This sickness will not end in death, but it is for God’s glory so that through it the Son of God may be glorified." Jesus stayed two more days where He was before going to Bethany. Lazarus’ family were patient and kept hoping in the Lord. It is hard to understand why it takes so long for some addicted people to recover, and some, it appears, do not recover. No matter what happens, we must keep praying and hoping in the Lord and expecting a miracle.

When Jesus told the sisters and friends of Lazarus to take the stone away from his tomb, they responded with a mixture of faith and skepticism. They believed that the Lord could do anything, but still they knew that Lazarus was dead. Often it is difficult to believe that recovery is possible. Some alcoholics become so sick physically, mentally and spiritually that the case appears to be hopeless. The addicted person himself fears that he will never be able to stop drinking and at the same time does not want to stop. Addicted people are in a tomb just like Lazarus. It is dark and ugly in there. They are isolated, wrapped tight, blinded. They struggle, but cannot free themselves.

Then the stone was removed, and the miracle happened immediately. Just as He called Lazarus, Jesus calls each of us by name to come out of the tomb. Suddenly there is hope, as Christ’s love and power is stronger than what bound and imprisoned us. We respond to His call and come out to experience life.

"Unbind him," Jesus told his friends, "and let him go free." Lazarus needed other people to help him, and so do we recovering people. He had to let others untie him, minister to him, and help him readjust to the world. He probably smelled. Maybe he blindly resisted their efforts to free him, but he needed his friends and they helped him in love.

A tomb, a living death is not an over-dramatic metaphor for addiction. The difference between our lives when we were addicted and our life now that we are sober is so great, such a complete opposite, that we know nothing less than a miracle was performed by God. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Mary D. is a Catholic member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Questions or comments may be sent to Mary D., c/o the Arlington Catholic HERALD, 200 N. Glebe Rd. Suite 607, Arlington, Va. 22203.

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