Come Forth

Author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Learning to Pray on one of the most intriguing events in the New Testament.

One of America's most beloved spiritual leaders and the New York Times bestselling author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Learning to Pray examines one of the most intriguing events in the New Testament-the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead-and explains its significance for us today.

In this wise and thoughtful book, Father James Martin, SJ, analyzes the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection and asks us to consider what Jesus means when he calls Lazarus-and each of us-to "come forth." Taking us through the Gospel story verse by verse, he offers deep reflection on the lessons it holds about love, family, sadness, frustration, fear, anger, freedom, and joy.

Come Forth combines compelling analysis of the biblical text, insights about the historical setting of the story, meditations on Lazarus in art and the larger culture, as well as stories of Martin's personal experiences. As he explores these strands in-depth, Martin offers us a deeper understanding of this miracle and its essential message-letting go of the limiting beliefs that prevent us from experiencing God in all His glory.

"All of us have things that we need to 'let die' in order to follow God more freely, to love more deeply, and to become the people whom God desires us to be," Martin writes. As this wise and profound book reveals, we need only to open ourselves to the transformative story of Lazarus and trust that God can use it to free us to experience new life-and come closer to Him.

About the Author

Rev. James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, and bestselling author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, and Between Heaven and Mirth. Father Martin has written for many publications, including the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and he is a regular commentator in the national and international media. He has appeared on all the major radio and television networks, as well as in venues ranging from NPR's Fresh Air, FOX's The O'Reilly Factor, and PBS's NewsHour to Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. Before entering the Jesuits in 1988, Father Martin graduated from the Wharton School of Business and worked for General Electric for six years.