Dear Friends,

This week's readings emphasise the power of God to bring new life to desolate places and people. In the gospel, in particular, we see that this restoration of life, this transformation is not a magical immunity from suffering, but a sign of God's steadfast presence right in the midst of loss and grief. Jesus enters into the fullness of his friends' pain, and draws forth the resurrected Lazarus from the depths of death, foreshadowing his own death and resurrection to come.

May these readings give us the courage to bring to God, in prayer, the desolate places and suffering people in our world, seeking for them the restoration and wholeness that is according to his will.

God bless

Samantha