Father Michael Posted March 26, 2023 Share Posted March 26, 2023 (edited) March 26th, 2023 Fifth Sunday of Lent A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Christ, the Resurrection and the Life” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (Ezekiel 37:1-14) The exile of the people to Babylon is described in terms of death. Their return is described in terms of resurrection and spiritual renewal. A new life is a wondrous miracle on the purely physical level. Ezekiel was a man for all seasons, interpreting the hand of God in human history, in good times and in bad. He saw the return of the Israelites to their homeland as a new exodus from death to life. Just as at creation, God’s Spirit called forth life, in his vision, that same Spirit enabled the people to rise from their “graves of despair” to a new hope. Ezekiel saw himself as a mediator of that Spirit, by His ministry among his fellow exiles. ~~~ (Romans 8:8-11) It was the Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead. Now this same Spirit lives in us, and gives us divine life. †Paul believed the three concepts of flesh, sin and death were very much interrelated. The apostle believed that the Christian life, when lived in the Spirit, is destined for glory. Whereas sin once found its home in human beings, those who open their hearts to the Word (Christ,) will become homes (temples,) for the Spirit. To belong to Christ means more than grateful acknowledgement of what Christ has affected for humanity—more than mere external identification or nominal relationship with Christ. To “belong” to Christ, is to open one’s heart, mind and will to His Spirit, living within. Such a “Spirited” life anticipates, in time and space, the eternal realities of “resurrected” life; “tasting” eternity as it hints at absolute and complete renewal, which will take place at the end of time. ~~~ (John 11:1-45) In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus shows that He is Lord of life and death. Resurrection to eternal life goes beyond “wondrous,” to “glorious.” As the last, and therefore, the greatest of the seven signs in †John’s Gospel, the raising of Lazarus is the threshold to the Passover event, which it introduced. (It is a visual presentation of †Paul’s theology in our Second Reading.) The “Bethany event” holds the sum total of Jesus’ words and works. He is “Life” and’ the “Resurrection” for all believers! Like Lazarus, the Christian believer will pass from death to life, by Jesus’ power. For us, eternal life is already ours! Because we have realized the “end times,” (joining with Jesus Christ in Baptism and the Holy Eucharist,) our physical death will truly be a “Passover,” or “Exodus,” for us. The Therapy of Tears One of the most surprising parts of the story of the raising of Lazarus is the part where Jesus broke down and cried. Perhaps it is the sight of a man weeping in public that surprises us. In general, men are not known for publicly showing emotions. We expect men to “take the knocks” of life, and “build a wall” behind which they hide their fragility—safeguarding their deepest feelings about life and other people. The Stoics of old were proud of their ability to conceal their feelings, hiding their anger, sadness and even their joy from others. Even today we are not comfortable with tears, which tend to be seen as signs of weakness. Nonetheless, tears have great therapeutic value, provided, of course, they are genuine and not merely sentimental. At times, leaders may show their vulnerability in public, but it is accepted only occasionally. If expressed too often, however, it may diminish them in the eyes of the people. Judiciously expressed, though, it can be an attractive quality—helping them become more relatable. Jesus’ heartfelt sympathy for Martha and Mary, in today’s Gospel story, helps us relate to Him as truly human. Grief is one of our strongest emotions. To be able to cope with it, we must learn to “work through it,” with as much honesty as possible, and continue to function. Some people are embarrassed to express their true feelings in public, preferring to keep them “bottled up” inside. Studies show such behavior can have dangerous consequences and may lead to serious emotional problems. Faith is our ally in facing death. It doesn’t mean we have “all the answers.” And it doesn’t dispense us from the painful work of grieving, but it adds a vital element: hope. Faith allows us to grieve as people who believe that death doesn’t have “the last word.” Faith also helps us to come to terms with our own mortality. For some, the agony that weighs on them is the result of having death banished from their thoughts and awareness. For others, especially in parts of our world where daily civil conflict and unrest are common, death is all too real and consuming. It’s important to think about death in a way that integrates it into life rather than excluding it. To become reconciled to death is a very great “grace”—that allows for a deeper and more human life, as well as a falling away of fear. An Invincible Spring Death is like winter—only worse. In nature’s winter, despite appearances to the contrary, life doesn’t’ cease. It merely goes “underground.” The outward dies, but not the core. But, in the “winter of death,” normal life seems to cease, altogether—seeming to rob us of everything we value. We heard in today’s Gospel that when the “winter of death” came for Lazarus, his sisters, Martha and Mary, were plunged into grief. But then, their friend, Jesus, came and shared their grief—so overcome with sorrow, that He also broke down. He challenged them saying, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die [to this life,] will live.” It couldn’t have been easy for the sisters to hear these words, as all evidence was against them—yet, they believed. For them, as for us, death constitutes a severe test of our faith—a faith that teaches us that Jesus, though He experienced the winter of death Himself, rose from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit, breaking the power of death…forever. He entered death’s dark kingdom and emerged victorious, and, as such, became a “pathfinder” for us, causing a new and invincible “spring” to dawn on all who believe in Him. It's only natural to be sad at the onset of winter, when spring seems far away. We see snow on the hills and feel the bitter wind in our faces. Through many years’ experience, we know that spring eventually comes again, renewing everything again. It’s the same when we are sad when the death claims a loved one, and we ponder our own impending demise. Because of our faith, we know death is an unavoidable part of every life, and we have Jesus’ own example to buoy us through any despair. Just as spring takes the sting out of winter, His promise of eternal life removes our doubt. Eternal life is not something that begins when we die. It begins the moment we hear the voice of Jesus and believe in Him. Even in the midst of winter, we know spring is quietly, at work, though it’s full blossoming is still in the future. May God Richly Bless You! Just a Closer Walk with Thee.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: Edited March 26, 2023 by Father Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.