In these days of instantaneous information about almost everything happening in the world, we need to discern what is important for us to maintain a level of truth that helps us understand what is best for us. An area that often is treated more as an afterthought is faith decisions, even though they concern our eternal life after death. The Bible and our readings and Gospel today address this very aspect to give us an insight to make it priority in our life.
Hebrew Scripture in the Old Testament tells us that two men did not die but went directly to heaven. In Genesis 5:24, Enoch, son of Jared and father of Methuselah, was taken alive by God to His abode. In 2 Kings, 2:11, Elijah, the ninth century BC prophet, was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind by a flaming chariot with flaming horses.
In the New Testament: Luke 7:15, the son of the widow of Nain was given life by Jesus during his burial services; and Mark 5:41-42 Jairus’ daughter had died and was touched by Jesus and brought back to life.
St. John’s Gospel today (John 11:43-44) Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus after four days in his tomb (supposedly after the soul has left the body). And, of course, throughout the New Testament we read about Jesus being raised from the dead following His crucifixion and ascension alive into heaven afterwards.
What do these incidents mean to us as Roman Catholics who believe that if we are faithful to God we will go to heaven after our death? That heaven exists and, if we remain sinless, we will go there to live an everlasting life of happiness because of God’s love for His creation.
Our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel illustrates for the Israelites of the Babylonian Exile and us that even though God punishes followers for their sins, if we repent, He will not abandon us and still offers eternal restoration.
St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans reminds us that as baptized disciples of the Holy Spirit we promise to fight against our sin nature by prioritizing our love of God and all He created. If we stay true to this, we will receive eternal life.
Three things from St. John’s Gospel today, I believe, clarify for us who Jesus is as God and man and what we need to do to accept that with no doubts.
First, Jesus’ unequivocal statement: “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Me, though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this”? As Martha said, “Yes, Lord.” So should we.
Second, Jesus began to weep. Though He is both God and man, Jesus human persona understands the depth of relationship God and humans have. This is a beloved creation of His who He befriended while in the flesh on earth. God has no bounds on the depth of love for us and showed it unassumingly in the tears he shed in his humanness.
And lastly in His words to His friend, “Lazarus, come out”! The proof of God as our Savior who would suffer, die on the cross for our sins, rise from the dead and ascend into heaven is asked by Jesus of His friend and follower. As Lazarus appears, bound hand and foot with linen strips and his face wrapped in a cloth, the truth of everything God promised is revealed for our understanding.
As Father Bill Bausch, a New Jersey parish priest and author, ended his homily for this Fifth Sunday of Lent with this question, Jesus, are you out there? must have been Lazarus’ question. The Good News is that He was: for Lazarus, for you and for me.
Reading 1: Ezekiel 37: 12-14
Reading 2: Romans 8: 8-11
Gospel: John 11: 1-45
No comments:
Post a Comment