She was there, mourning and wondering …

in Bethany, knowing this family,

wailing when Lazarus died

although he was so ill.

She knew Mary and Martha--sisters

who seemed quite different …

both calling her son to come,

telling him:

“the one you love is dying.” ^{John 11:3}

Two long days passed before Jesus,

returning there to Judea knowing

some wanted him dead by stoning,

found Lazarus dead, sleeping

in the grave, not sleeping but

placed in a dug limestone grave,

lying there:

behind the stone for four days.

His mother remembered her son’s words:

“If they do not hear Moses and the prophets

and believe, neither will they be convinced

if some one should rise from the dead.” ^{Luke 16:41}

He called to beloved Lazarus--bound in linen,

shrouded hand and foot, death’s face wrapped,

“Come out!”
Dead man rising, untied, he came out alive.

Lazarus' Tomb in Bethany

Icon of the Raising of Lazarus

Miryam stood silently by, as she could

with prayer in her heart, fear pounding

in mother’s veins, hoping her son’s word wouldn’t

die without hope: “I am the resurrection

and the life.” ^{Jn 11:25} A sign, she knew--a sign!

Will they see Lazarus now walking, risen

from the dead?

No, the chief priests plotted to kill him again. ^{John 12:10}

Lazarus, El-azar, “who God helps,” fled, hiding

for new life in Cyprus … soon Jesus, who gave

him life, was crucified, rose himself  but didn’t stay.

Lonely now, scared Lazarus dared to write, calling

the mother to come, sail to safety and visit where

violence couldn’t touch her, maybe staying there.

The storm roared,

strangely steering the boat to shores further away.

Legend tells the tale how Miryam found firm land …

safety given by the God she’d birthed, an island

tipped with mountain, a place she called her own,

a time to stop and pray and wonder why alone

with only John called “beloved son” at her side,

she dared sail more missions of love and truth, ride,

back home,

wait until she, too, saw death in a tomb beneath a stone.