LORD, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE…

Exodus 40:16-21,34-38

16 Thus did Moses; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.
17 And in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.18 Moses erected the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; 19 and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
20 And he took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above on the ark;
21 and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as the LORD had commanded Moses.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would go onward; 37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward till the day that it was taken up.
38 For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.

John 11:19-27

19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING meticulously details the construction method and layout of the ark wherein a number of holy objects were placed.Above the Tabernacle that was veiled and contained the stone tablets was the mercy seat with two cherubim of gold that watched over the Tabernacle that was overshadowed by a cloud. 
In other words the ark is occupied by the living presence of God and His Holy angels holds a central place in the lives of the Israelites wherefrom mercy and deliverance is expended. 

St JOHN GOSPEL describe the mourning demeanor of two sisters whose hearts were broken after the passing of their brother Lazarus. Martha appear to be distraught and let down that Jesus was not ‘available’ to attend to her brother during his sickness, however she was convinced that He had the power to raise Lazarus from the dead!

Martha and Marys intercessory prayer in the form of a notification to Jesus to attend to the sick and now deceased brother demonstrate that our prayers for our deceased loved ones are meritorious and will be responded to by Christ Jesus! Anyone who teaches that prayer intercession for the dead is not meritorious, is at odds with the gospel and not a friend of Christ! Moreover, Christ is merciful and present in a living and not inanimate Tabernacle in each Catholic Church, where we can approach Him and seek His Divine intercession for the living and the dead who shall hear His voice.Jn 5:24-25

LET US PRAY: Psalms 84:3-6,8,11

3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at thy altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in thy house, ever singing thy praise! [Selah]
5 Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.