HOMILY 

By His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America 

On the Saturday of Lazarus  

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church 

Baltimore, Maryland 

April 16, 2022 

Beloved sisters and brothers in Christ, 

I am so happy to be with you here today – the first time in nearly fifty years that an Archbishop has visited your community. At that time, it was the ever-memorable Archbishop Iakovos, whom I am sure some of you remember – most certainly your Proestamenos, Fr. Elias, or as you all know him, Fr. Lou. I have heard the report of this community many times – words that praise you and especially your former and founding priest of this Temple, Fr. Anastasios, or as you knew him, Fr. Ernie. 

I can feel the warmth and love of your Church family, and I commend you for being such a Church family of loving Orthodox Christians. You remind me of the saints we read about today: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. They were a family – siblings, who were connected in a very special way to our Lord Jesus. The Gospel Reading from John even says: 

Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.1 

We know that our Lord Jesus Christ loves every single person and every single creature in the universe. Of this, there is no doubt. But it is rare in the Scripture to hear it so specifically said about particular persons. 

Martha, Mary and Lazarus were special. They were deeply involved in our Lord’s life – the way your closest of friends are involved with your life. 

Look around this magnificent church right now. You will see many people you know, and perhaps some that you don’t. And then, you may see special people whom you value for their abiding friendship, for their wise counsel and for their emotional support. It is not easy to be that close with everyone in your parish. Relationships of substance take time and effort. 

So, when we hear about these three – Martha, Mary and Lazarus – we are hearing about the closest friends of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This is why the story is so emotional, so dramatic and so poignant. 

The Lord sees the illness of His friend. He knows the pain, the grief, the mourning and the loss that is coming to Lazarus and to his sisters. It is personal for Jesus. 

We see, as Saint John Chrysostom says, the Lord crying as a human being.2 It is the shortest verse in the English Bible: 

Jesus wept. 

Ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς.3 

As much as anything you will ever read in Holy Scripture, this simple verse tells you everything you need to know about how God feels about you. God weeps for you. He weeps for every human being who must endure sickness and death. 

God loves each of us as a most cherished and dear friend – in the same way that He loved Lazarus, and in the same way He loved his sisters, Mary and Martha. 

We see the Lord Jesus not only grieve over Lazarus, who had died – as every human being will – but we behold Him feeling the pain of the family – their loss and heartache. And it reaches a crescendo when the friends and acquaintances of Lazarus join in the lamentations. 

When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Judeans who had accompanied her wailing with grief, he shuddered in His spirit, and was shaken deep within. 4 

Thus, my beloved friends, let us understand that in this Holy Week and in every Holy Week, we behold the Lord Who raises the dead. But first He joins us in our suffering, and then suffers Himself on the Cross. It is God’s way of redeeming our fallen human nature by His perfect human nature. 

Yes, Saint John Chrysostom says that Jesus weeps as a man, but He raises Lazarus as God. 5 He calls Lazarus back from the dead by the words: 

Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω! Lazarus, come forth! 6 

And so, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, He will also call each one of us – by name – back from our dead works of sin and forgetfulness of our true nature, and out of our self-made tombs of selfishness, pride, fear, envy and anger. 

And this is because He loves us, and because we are as much His friends as Mary, Martha and Lazarus. 

The voice of the Lord speaks to set you free. 

And in this Holy Week, the Lord comes to dies with us, so that He might raise us all up with Him in His everlasting Kingdom. 

Trust in His love. Have faith in His friendship. And listen for His voice in your heart.  

I pray that this Holy Week, and this Holy Pascha, will be for you the assurance of God’s love for you and His friendship with you. And that you will all know this in your souls, by the power of His Resurrection. Amen. 

Καλή Δύναμη, καὶ Καλή Ἀνάσταση!