As I was preparing for Palm Sunday and Holy week, I wondered what Jesus was doing before His triumphal entrance to Jerusalem celebrated as Palm Sunday. My search led me to the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church commemorates this Saturday as Lazarus Saturday. They remember "the miracle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he raised Lazarus from the dead after he had lain in the grave four days." The following is a reading that might be done today:
"O Christ our God, before Your Passion,
You raised Lazarus from the dead
to confirm the common Resurrection for all.
Therefore, we carry the symbols of victory as did the youths,
and we cry out to you, the victor over death,
"Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
As this Holy week approaches I pray you find yourself in a place of praise & adoration as we think about our Lord and all that transpires this coming week. But today this Saturday, Jesus was with friends. He restored one to life who had died. He was still about His Father's work. May we too be about what God the Father has given us to do.
When he had said this,
Jesus called in a loud voice,
"Lazarus, come out!"
John 11:43
