Lazarus is the most striking warning of all because he is someone described by Jesus as our friend. He is a symbol of a baptized Christian who has fallen into habitual sin one who is not only sick, but dead and corrupting who is absolutely helpless unless Jesus comes along and raises him from the tomb of spiritual death. Let us push the symbol one step further in its poignancy. I shall not call you servants, but friends. Here is someone who is the symbol of a person dedicated to the spiritual journey, who has entered the crisis of faith and has begun to slip.
First illness sets in and then death sin.
Then comes corruption habitual sin. The sin of pride, avarice, gluttony, vainglory, ambition, lust, and all the others. A person dedicated to the spiritual journey is no more exempt from these temptations than anybody else. The two sisters send a message to Jesus full of resignation and faith. Master, your dear friend is ill.