John 11: 1-45
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032226.cfm
Several years ago, in
the midst of the pandemic, our late Holy Father Pope Francis offered a deeply
moving plea to God in St. Peter square for the end of the Corona virus and the
suffering it was causing. As the sun was setting and rain falling, he walked
alone, up the steps of the Basilica before the enormous facade of St. Peter’s
and with nearly no assistance he took his place under a lit canopy and faced a
vast and empty square. It is hard to
imagine, surreal at the least, a more dramatic moment. What may have been going
through his mind is unknown but a more sober and solemn time has not been
equalled with both sadness and faith, life in the face of death. In a symbolic
way, Pope Francis as a courageous pastor stood directly before the darkness
with the power of faith and hope
This Sunday we have a
Gospel passage which assures us of that same truth. We hear Jesus telling Martha: “I am the
resurrection and the life.” Followed shortly by the forceful command of
Jesus, “Lazarus come out!” when the formerly dead Lazarus walked out of
the tomb to the stunned reaction of the crowd. Jesus stood before death and
commanded its grip to release Lazarus. Death no longer would have a final grasp
on us and Jesus shows us that God has ultimate power over darkness and death.
Of all the miracle
stories in the Gospels I think the raising of Lazarus is certainly among the
most vivid. We cannot help but feel the
grief of Jesus who wept at hearing of the death of his friend Lazarus. The pleading
of Martha to Jesus to come to Bethany, Jesus deliberate delay in going, and his
meeting with Martha who states: “Lord, if you had been here my brother would
not have died,” is both heart wrenching and puzzling. Why did Jesus delay
his journey to Bethany knowing well that Lazarus was terminal?
So, we can certainly
find ourselves caught in the scene and we learn that this miracle was the final
straw that broke the camel’s back as it were for Jesus. In essence, he signed his own death warrant
with this public display of divine power. It placed a bullseye on his back and
enraged the authorities to confirm that he was a dangerous threat to the Jewish
status quo and a disturbance to Roman power over the people.
Our Lord was well
aware of what would happen and despite that warning, he enters Jerusalem to the
wave of palm branches, adoring crowds proclaiming him to be King. Authorities
had enough so they plot his demise. This
story, however, is not about that as much as it remains another story of
faith. A moment of encounter with Christ
whose very presence and invitation to Martha is the same for us when Jesus
states: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if
he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
Jesus here calls Martha to a higher level of belief in him. Do you, Martha, believe that even in the face of what seems so final, death itself, God remains a source for life, hope, transformation, and Christian joy?
Two weeks ago the
Samaritan woman discovered the Messiah and his endless “living water.” Last
Sunday the man born blind found the new sight of faith in the One who is “light
of the world.” And today, we are called to recognize that not even death itself
can stop the power of God to bring us eternal life and hope in this world. Certainly,
the life giving sacrament of baptism and the spiritual effects of that grace
are signified here.
While the story of
Lazarus has no symbol of water yet it is the power of Jesus’ word and our faith
in him that brings about a transformation – new life. "Lazarus, come
out!" and, merely at his command, he comes out alive.
While the raising of Lazarus remains a profound moment in Jesus’ public ministry, it remains for us a call to place our faith in the One whose word is truth. As Bishop Robert Barron also says about Jesus: “Because he is who he says he is, what Jesus says is.” I am the resurrection and the life – and we can be confident that our faith in him lifts us up, takes away fear and provides hope even in the faith of temptation and darkness.
When we gather for
the celebration of the Mass, we recognize that we encounter the same Christ who
raised Lazarus and who now becomes present to us under the signs of bread and
wine that he may overcome the darkness and death in our life and we may see him
as our Lord, the Son of the living God. The sacramental signs of our Church are
a living reminder to us that Christ continues to call us to faith.
Let us not forget,
the celebration of our Eucharist, then, is that prime sign of his risen
presence with us. His Body and Blood
call us to unity and provide the confidence to keep on going as an essentially
optimistic people who are not overcome by fear, isolation, materialism, or
false hopes this world may provide.
As true man he wept for Lazarus his friend
and as eternal God raised him from the tomb,
just as taking pity on the human race,
he leads us by sacred mysteries to new life.
(From the Preface for Sunday)
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