We respond to the reading of the story of Lazarus with a smile. It is a story with a happy ending.
Tyrannical death seems so invincible, so universally victorious.
Even Jesus seems helpless in the face of Lazarus' death. Is not Lazarus Jesus' beloved friend, yet Lazarus dies and Jesus does not prevent it. Jesus seems helpless to prevent the victory and power of death. Lazarus is silent, passive, helpless, shut up in the darkness of a tomb. Jesus helpless, Jesus passive, Jesus powerless before death the tyrant, death the leveler, death the entomber.