« Ce Dieu terriblement humain ». Reflexions on language in André Scrima’s interpretation of the Resurrection of Lazarus

Abstract

This article aims to analyse Fr André Scrima’s interpretation of the resurrection of Lazarus in his commentary on the Gospel of John and in a homily dedicated to the miracle that Christ performed at Bethany. The texts we take into consideration are particularly relevant for a Christian reflection on the relationship between God’s word and human language. Scrima’s hermeneutics is traditional as well as oriented to a modern audience. Speaking about Lazarus, he chooses to focus on three aspects of the divine language: compassion, truth, and restoration of man. Scrima’s reflections illustrate a possible dialogue between the long and rich reception of the raising of Lazarus in the Christian tradition and the Lazarus motif in modern culture.