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.
