Come Forth

'A spiritual masterpiece’ Richard Rohr, OFM

A magnificent, moving spiritual journey’ Amy-Jill Levine

'Genius' Mary Karr

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

'This remarkable testimony demonstrates the power of a single Gospel story. This is soul-nourishing and highly recommended' Ben Witherington III, author of A Week in the Life of Corinth

In this wise and thoughtful book, Father James Martin, SJ, analyses 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, consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication and author of the New York Times bestsellers Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.

Father Martin is a frequent commentator in the media, having appeared on networks and outlets such as: The Colbert Report, NPR’s Fresh Air, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.