Cycle A - Year II:

6 April 2014: Fifth Sunday of Lent

(Liturgical color: Violet)

John 11:1-45

A new life in Christ!

There was a story of two golf buddies who went out to play their game one day. As they were deep into the game, a funeral procession passed by. Immediately the first guy stopped to play his game, turned facing the procession and reverently bowed his head in silence. After the funeral had passed by, the second guy commended his golf buddy for his admirable respect for the dead. But the first guy answered him, "Well, that was my wife's funeral."

In today's Gospel, we hear about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary who were friends of Jesus. The sisters had sent word to Jesus that their brother was seriously ill. But instead of rushing to heal Lazarus, Jesus took his time and might have allowed Lazarus to die, so "that the Son of God may be gloried through it."

So when Jesus came to Judea, to the house of Martha and Mary, their brother Lazarus was dead and already buried four days.

But Jesus orders the stone at Lazarus' tomb to be taken away, prays to the

Father, and then calls out: "Lazarus, come out!" And immediately Lazarus came back to life again. It is a miracle that baffles the mind.

In practical life, 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 died in Christ to everlasting life with Him in the heavenly kingdom. Through the raising of Lazarus Jesus showed the disciples and the world that He has power over death.

Yet this miracle of a dead man raised to life again is nothing compared to our Lord's Resurrection. Lazarus came back to the same life with hardships and pain, and eventually, he died again.

But our Lord Jesus Christ rose to a glorious, new and everlasting life completely free from suffering.

We, too, will be raised to a glorious, new and everlasting life free from suffering through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

For Jesus said to Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,  and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (Jn 11:25-26)

This is our faith. And we profess this belief every time we pray "The Creed".

A blessed Sunday to us all, and thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!