During the holiday season we tend to reflect on the past year, remembering the difficult times and giving thanks for the courage to move forward into the next season with hopeful joy. In the story of the raising of Lazarus, we are confronted with what it means to leave behind what holds us back and embrace new life. This week on The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, Father James Martin and host Rev. Paul Raushenbush explore the relevance of the story of Lazarus, highlighting the universal message of grappling with grief, loss, and the invitation to embark on a journey of spiritual renewal. Jim also shares his experience from this year’s Synod and the path forward for LGBTQ Catholics in the Church.

"I think without gratitude, you end up focusing only on the negative, you end up focusing only on places where your life is lacking, and you tend to compare yourself with other people's lives. "– Fr. James Martin, S.J., New York Times best-selling author and editor-at-large at America Magazine. Father Jim also serves as editor of Outreach, an LGBTQ Catholic resource. He was appointed to the Catholic Church Secretariat of Communication by Pope Francis and recently returned from Rome, where he attended the Church Synod. His latest book is titled Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest Miracle.