I Am the Resurrection and the Life
Introduction: May you keep your eyes focused on where the Lord
Jesus is calling you to be and may you realize that Jesus is offering you a
fuller life than what you are experiencing now.
God is constantly offering us the gift of new life. It is
ours for the taking, but it does demand that we respond to the gift by living
differently than we did with our old lives. Individuals who had a “near-death”
experience were clinically dead but were revived. Of the common experiences
they share, one is the sense that they still had something to do with their
lives here on earth. They returned with new enthusiasm for life. Their former,
and possibly selfish, lives of living were changed to being dedicated to
assisting others and doing what was best for all whose paths they crossed. They
no longer acted with fear of death but were motivated by a renewed sense of
what “life” is all about.
We are all asked to have such dedication to new life and
seek to let go of our former ways of self-seeking and be concerned for others
and assist them on along the journey of life.
From God’s promise of restoring life in Ezekiel, through
Saint Paul’s reminder that our mortal bodies will be brought to life, to Jesus’
raising Lazarus from the dead, the theme of new life reverberates loudly. God
wants us to have life – the fullness of life – eternal life – life from, with,
and of God.
First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14: ‘I will put my spirit
within you, and you shall live.’
Commentary: At the
darkest moment of Israel’s history, when they are hopeless exiles in Babylon,
the prophet Ezekiel foretells a rebirth. In a great vision, of which we read
only three paltry verses, he sees a valley full of dead bones. The Lord
commands him to breathe on them, and in Hebrew the same word is used for breath
and Spirit. Ezekiel breathes on them the enlivening Spirit of the Lord. The
bones come together, are covered with flesh and sinews, and become ‘a great, an
immense army’. Directly, the prophet is foretelling the rebirth of Israel as a
nation, that they will return to life once again in the Promised Land, given
life as a nation once more. We can, however, read this prophecy in the light of
the biblical revelation as a whole, and see that it is hinting at and
mysteriously suggesting a further meaning. In this fullness of meaning the
Church has always understood the prophecy as a promise of personal resurrection
through the Spirit of God. We are on the threshold of the celebration of the
Resurrection of Christ at Easter, and so of our own resurrection. This reading
partners today’s gospel reading about the new life given to Lazarus.
Responsorial Psalm 130:1-2. 3-4. 5-6b. 6c-8. With the
LORD there is mercy, in him is plentiful redemption.
Psalm 130 promises fullness of redemption to those who trust
in the LORD. With the LORD there is life. Without the LORD there is only death,
and death to all relationships.
Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11: ‘The Spirit of him who
raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.’
Commentary: Paul
has described and analysed the process of salvation through Jesus’ offering of
himself in loving obedience to his Father, and our own integration into Christ
by being plunged into him in baptism and so joining him in his death and
resurrection. This eighth chapter is the chapter of the Spirit, considering how
we are transformed by the Spirit of Christ, now become our own spirit, through
which we live. The Spirit of the Risen Christ is already in us and is
empowering us, but our bodies are not yet transformed, as they will be in the
final resurrection. In the later Pauline epistles (Colossians and Ephesians)
this is expressed differently: God has already brought you to life with Christ.
You have already been raised up: it remains only for this risen life to be
revealed with him in glory (Colossians 2.12; 3.4). The Spirit of God and of
Christ, described in the Johannine writings as the Paraclete or Helper, leads
us into all truth, giving us an ever deeper appreciation of God’s gifts to us.
The Spirit also gives us strength and zeal to do God’s work in all our ways of
life.
Gospel: John 11:1-45: ‘I am the resurrection and the
life.’
Commentary: The
third of these great Johannine gospel readings on the Sundays of Lent, leading
up to and preparing us for the baptisms of the new members of Christ at the
Easter Vigil, grips us with the story of Jesus’ gift of life to his friend
Lazarus. This is not the same as the gift of life to us by Jesus in the
resurrection, for Lazarus returns to ordinary human life, and will die again,
whereas the Christian resurrection transforms us into a new way of life, giving
us a life which is an participation in the divine life. But the resurrection of
Lazarus is the last and greatest of Jesus’ signs, his marvellous works which
point towards and hint at this final gift of divine life. The first of the
signs was the transformation of the water of the Law into the wine of the Messianic
wedding banquet at Cana. These signs show who Jesus really is. As well as
showing the divine power of Jesus – for only God can give life – they
also show the real, human love of Jesus for his friends. He is upset by
Lazarus’ death and weeps for him, sharing the human sorrow of his family as he
shares our sorrows too.
Reflection: If a true "friend loves at all
times"(Proverbs 17:17), why did Jesus delay in coming to Lazarus' home
when he knew that his friend was gravely ill? Jesus certainly loved Lazarus and
his two sisters and he often stayed in their home at Bethany. But to the
surprise of his friends and disciples, Jesus did not go right away to Bethany
when he was called. Jesus explained that Lazarus' sickness would bring glory to
God. The glory which Jesus had in mind, however, was connected with suffering
and the cross. He saw the cross as his supreme glory and the way to glory in
the kingdom of God. For Jesus there was no other way to glory except through
the cross.
Jesus also knew that it was dangerous for him to travel
anywhere near Jerusalem at this time, since the religious authorities in
Jerusalem were plotting his destruction. Jesus, however, was willing to pay the
price to help his friend. For Jesus to come to Jerusalem at Passover time was
an act of courage. The explanation which Jesus gave to his disciples was simple
and challenging at the same time. "Are there not twelve hours in the
day?" In so many words he said: "There are enough hours in the day to
do what one must do." A day can neither be rushed nor extended. Its period
is fixed.
Courage to act in the light
of God's truth: In God's economy we each have our "day"
whether it be short or long. While time is limited, there is enough for us to
accomplish what God intends. God gives each of us our allotted portion in life.
We can either waste it or use it to the utmost for God's glory. Jesus did not
let circumstances or pressure dictate what he would do. Nor did he permit
others to dictate his actions or timetable. He took action of his own
initiative and in his good time. Don't we often try to get God to do things in
our way and on our timetable?
Both the Romans and the Jews divided the day into twelve
equal hours from sunrise to sunset. The day's work and travel, however, ceased
when the daylight was gone. If someone wanted to get their day's work done, he
had to do it before it got dark. Jesus made a spiritual analogy with our
relationship with God. While the light of Christ is with us, we must live and
walk in the truth and grace of his light. There's a right time to make peace
with God, and that time is now. When darkness comes, then judgment follows for
those who refuse God and spurn his love.
When Jesus announced that Lazarus was dead and that he was
going to Jerusalem, Thomas showed both his courage and pessimism. "Let us
go, that we may die with him." This courage, however, was not tempered
with faith and hope in God's promise to bring victory out of defeat. Even
though Thomas was a witness to Lazarus' resurrection, he betrayed his master
when arrest and death stared him in the face. He doubted his master's
resurrection until Jesus showed him the wounds of his passion. God gives us
faith, courage, and the strength we need to persevere through any trial and
suffering we must face in this life. If we embrace our cross with faith and
trust in God, then we, too, will see victory and glory in the end.
The hope of our resurrection:
What is the significance of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? It
is more than a miraculous event. It is a "sign" of God's promise to
raise up all who have died in Christ to everlasting life. That is why Jesus
asked Martha if she believed in the resurrection from the dead. The Christian
creed, which is the profession of our faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit and in the saving power of God, culminates in the proclamation of the
resurrection of the dead on the last day and in life everlasting. This is our
faith and our hope.
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your
mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you" (Romans 8:11).
God gives us the power of his Holy Spirit that we may be
made alive in Christ. Even now we can experience the power of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus in our personal lives. The Holy Spirit is ever ready to
change and transform us into men and women of faith, hope, and love. Do you
believe that the power of Jesus' resurrection is at work in your life today?
Let the Holy Spirit strengthen within you the life and joy of God and the hope
of heaven.
God is my help: The
name Lazarus means "God is my help". Jesus' parable about the poor
man Lazarus, who died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom (Luke
16:19-31), ends with a warning: "If they do not hear Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the
dead." Through Lazarus' sickness and subsequent death, God brought glory
through his Son the Lord Jesus, who raised his friend from the dead in
anticipation of his own death and resurrection. Our participation in the Lord's
Supper in the Eucharist already gives us a foretaste of Jesus' transfiguration
of our bodies.
Irenaeus, a second century
church father states: "Just as bread that comes from the earth,
after God's blessing has been invoked upon it, is no longer ordinary bread, but
Eucharist, formed of two things, the one earthly and the other heavenly: so too
our bodies, which partake of the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, but
possess the hope of resurrection"(Adv. Haeres. 4,18).
Psalm 27 ends with the great
prayer of hope in the resurrection: "I believe that I shall see
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong
and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord!" Do you find joy
and hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Lord Jesus Christ, you have ransomed us with your blood and
restored us to life with the Father in heaven. May your resurrection be our
hope as we long for the day when we will see you face to face in glory.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: Cross and
Resurrection, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Jesus' cross is an example of painful toil. His
resurrection is the reward of painful toil. In the cross He showed us how we
are to bear suffering. In His resurrection He showed us what we are to hope
for." (excerpt from On the Creed 3,9)
Rise and hear: “I
will open your graves and have you rise from them.” —Ezekiel 37:12.
The context of today’s first reading is a passage about God
raising dry bones to life (Ez 37:1-11). Our churches are missing well over half
of registered Catholics each Sunday, according to research. Moreover, many who
actually attend Mass are spiritually deaf and unable to clearly hear the Word
of God.
Perhaps the Lord allows so many dead, dry bones in His Body,
the Church, because death is not the end, but the beginning of new life. Death
is a seed falling to the ground and dying so it might bear great fruit (Jn
12:24).
Why did Jesus wait four days to raise Lazarus? (Jn 11:17) He
said it was so that the crowd could hear His words and then believe that the
Father sent Jesus (Jn 11:42). God’s Word also reveals that the Lord waits so
none may perish and all would have the chance to hear, repent, and be saved (2
Pt 3:9, 15).
All sin leads to death (see Rm 6:23). The Sacrament of
Confession enables those who are dead in sin to find new life in Christ. How
dry we are! (see Ez 37:3) May we repent, hear God’s Word clearly, and rise from
the death of sin to new, risen life in Jesus.
Prayer: Father, raise me from my dullness to risen life
in Your Son, Jesus. “If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells
in you, then He Who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies
to life also, through His Spirit dwelling in you.” —Rm 8:11. Praise You, Jesus!
You triumph over sin and death and offer eternal life in heaven to all who
believe in You (see Jn 3:36).
The personal action for today:
What is my attitude when I experience grief in my life? Do I become angry with
God so much so that I turn away from the Lord Jesus and His Abba-Father? Do I
express my feelings and also profess my faith that God loves me and will give
me (and my loved ones) restored life? How is my relationship with God right
now? Do I trust God and profess my belief in God, even though I don’t see the
light of new life? How can I comfort others who are experiencing pain, dying,
and/or grief? How can I assure them of the eternal life that God wants them
and/or their loved ones to have?
Saint Nicholas Owen: Saint Nicholas Owen, familiarly known as “Little
John,” was small in stature but big in the esteem of his fellow Jesuits.
Born at Oxford, this humble artisan saved the lives of many
priests and laypersons in England during the penal times (1559-1829), when a
series of statutes punished Catholics for the practice of their faith. Over a
period of about 20 years, Nicholas used his skills to build secret hiding
places for priests throughout the country.
His work, which he did completely by himself as both
architect and builder, was so good that time and time again priests in hiding
were undetected by raiding parties. Nicholas was a genius at finding and
creating places of safety: subterranean passages, small spaces between walls,
impenetrable recesses.
At one point he was even able to mastermind the escape of
two Jesuits from the Tower of London. Whenever Saint Nicholas Owen set out to
design such hiding places, he began by receiving the holy Eucharist, and he
would turn to God in prayer throughout the long, dangerous construction
process.
After many years at his unusual task, Nicholas entered the
Society of Jesus and served as a lay brother, although—for very good
reasons—his connection with the Jesuits was kept secret.
After a number of narrow escapes, he himself was finally
caught in 1594. Despite protracted torture, Nicholas refused to disclose the
names of other Catholics. After being released following the payment of a
ransom, “Little John” went back to his work. He was arrested again in 1606.
This time he was subjected to horrible tortures, suffering an agonizing death.
The jailers tried suggesting that he had confessed and committed suicide, but
his heroism and sufferings soon were widely known. Nicholas Owen was canonized
in 1970 as one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales.
Nicholas was a clever builder and architect who used his
skills to protect endangered priests. Without his help, hundreds of English
Catholics would have been deprived of the sacraments. His gift for spotting
unlikely places to hide priests was impressive, but more impressive was his
habit of seeking support for his work in prayer and the Eucharist. If we follow
his example, we may also discover surprising ways to put our skills to God’s
service.
