Sunday, March 26, 2023

Fifth Sunday of Lent

(Ezekiel 37: 12-14; Romans 8: 8-11; John 11: 1-45)

We are approaching Easter, the heart of the mystery of Christ. Mass readings today deal with death and resurrection. It is worthwhile to reflect on them well so that we understand the meaning of these same events in the life of Christ during Holy Week.

The prophet Ezekiel takes us to the Valley of the dead. He says that God will make people believe in him when he opens the graves of the dead. Ezequiel himself understands these words as a prophecy that the Israel people will be renewed. The capital of Jerusalem has been razed by the Babylonian army. Its palaces have collapsed, and its fortifications have been demolished. God announces that Jerusalem still has a future. He will rebuild her from the rubble.

We are tempted to interpret Ezekiel to say that God is promising Israel the resurrection of its dead. But in the sixth and fifth centuries before Christ people did not think like this. They were people with a collective, not individualistic, spirit. That Jerusalem would be great again was the important thing, not the everlasting life of any man or woman.

Consciousness of immortality comes centuries later. By the time of Jesus, Israel was divided on the question. Some expected life after death, and some did not. In reading today Jesus enters the debate. He wants to teach not only that resurrection of the dead is the will of God but also that it is within the reach of all. To deliver this message, he will raise his friend Lazarus from the dead. For this reason he waits until Lazarus dies before going to his home.

When Jesus arrives there, Marta, the deceased's sister, welcomes him. As we know from the Gospel of Luke, Marta is not shy.  She tells Jesus bluntly: “’… if you were here, my brother would not have died… ’” Jesus must explain to her that he is the resurrection and the life so that the person who believes in him even if he dies physically, lives on spiritually. Marta says she believes that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God although she does not seem aware of what these titles mean.

Many today live with Marta's doubts. They say they believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, but their belief in him is anemic. They don't want to talk to the others of Jesus. They may come to Mass, but only when it is not inconvenient. They may not use profane language, but they seem to enjoy gossip and dirty jokes. This is only half faith in Jesus.

At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus does three significant things before calling him out. First, he cries because he is a man who sympathizes with others. Second, he is moved with anger. This is not so much a sign of affliction as of disgust. Because the prince of death is close by, Jesus shows him his disdain. Third, Jesus prays to God the Father. This is not simply a gesture to raise people's faith but a request that God's will be done in favor of life.

Then full of the sadness of the afflicted, anger with the devil for causing death, and confidence in his heavenly Father, Jesus shouts out to Lazarus.  The man emerges from the tomb wearing his bandages because he will need them again.  This "resurrection" is temporary. It will be different with Jesus. When Jesus rises from the dead, the bandages will stay in the sepulcher because he will live forever. If we believe in him, we will never die spiritually. If we follow him faithfully, on the last day our bodies will be raised with is for eternity.