Friday of this week is First Friday – a devotion to the Sacred Heart that developed in the latter part of the 17th century. There is a difference between devotion and liturgy.
The word liturgy applies to those prayers and rituals and seasons that are in the official books of the Church, regulated by the Church and celebrated on behalf of the whole Church. It refers to more than the Mass. The celebration of any of the sacraments is a liturgy. The Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) is another example. The calendar of the Church with its seasons and feasts is also part of our liturgy.
Devotions on the other hand, are prayers and practices that are optional, for example, the rosary, forty hours, novenas, scapulars, first Fridays.
No matter how widespread or publicly celebrated a particular devotion may be, it is not part of the core prayers and rituals of the Church, nor is it celebrated on behalf of the whole Church. Many devotions are quite private – a person can make up their own.
People are free to make use of whatever devotions they find helpful. A general principle is that no one (especially a pastoral leader) should attempt to impose his or her devotions on others. Devotions are something like a dessert tray – a person may choose whatever they like. However, should a devotion develop that is contrary to the faith (for example, devil worship) the Church would step in.
This is the longest of all the miracle stories in the Gospels, and one of the best known. While there is no need to retell it here some details deserve a close look.
• The miracle takes place in Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem. Jesus had just been in Jerusalem for a feast, but he had to leave because, when he said to a group of people, “I and the Father are one,” they wanted to stone him. John says, “He escaped from their power.”
• When Lazarus is ill, his sisters ask Jesus to come and heal him…which meant a return to dangerous territory.
• By the time Jesus returns, Lazarus is dead. He has been in the tomb for four days. In that climate, his body would have been in a state of advanced decay. He is very dead.
• Jesus speaks to Martha with utter clarity: “I am the resurrection and the life…everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” And Martha replies by speaking words very similar to the profession of faith that Peter makes in the other three Gospels: I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
• Before calling Lazarus to come out of the tomb, Jesus prays aloud to the Father, showing that God is made known through the words and actions of Jesus.
• In John’s account, this is the miracle that sets in motion the decision to have Jesus killed. One might be tempted to say…Jesus will not get out of there alive. But to say that is to have a very limited view of “life”.