Sunday 5 Lent (A): The Resurrection and the Life – Jn. 11

Some years ago, I found myself in a very difficult situation. It was the nearest to despair I have ever come. I recall going to bed one night, and as I lay down, there flashed into my mind the picture of Lazarus lying in his tomb. Immediately, I came to the realization: “if Jesus could raise Lazarus from the grave, he can get me out of my present darkness.” I understood and I believed, perhaps for the first time, that “nothing is impossible to God.” After this gift of divine light, I never looked back.

The story of the resurrection of Lazarus has always been a favorite of mine. As an altar boy, I remember that the priest always seemed to use this Gospel when I served at funerals. In later years, at a memorial Mass for the brother of a friend of mine who had committed suicide, the phrase of Martha to Jesus was particularly poignant: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died!” Then there was Zeffirelli’s magnificent film, Jesus of Nazareth, which portrayed the resurrection of Lazarus with great dramatic effect. I still tremble when I think of Jesus crying out in a loud voice, “Lazarus! Come forth!”, as I still feel my heart miss a beat when I see this dead man emerge from the darkness of the grave to the light of Jesus. My heart leapt with a hope which gave me to understand what fearlessness can be. Who could remain unmoved before Christ’s authority over death itself, especially if he were to witness the resurrection of a dear relative from the tomb? The mind might not believe it, but the eyes would make the mind irrelevant. The grief to which one might cling would be torn from the heart, not now by the mere hope of resurrection, but by its realization.

The resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus was almost the climax of his miracles, that is, of his signs for people to believe in his divinity. I say “almost” because the real climax was his own resurrection. Lazarus would die again. Jesus rose never again to die. The body of Lazarus was animated again by the spirit of mortality, but the body of Jesus was animated by the Holy Spirit of immortality. This is the same Holy Spirit of which we have all received a first measure, and if we remain faithful, the fullness of that Spirit will raise us, not like Lazarus, but like Jesus. You who sit before me, and I who stand before you: we are the heirs of resurrection unto immortality!

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus the power of immortality flows into the seven sacraments. These are the new breed of miracle or sign that Jesus instituted for us. They feed to us the pledge of his very own immortality. It is for this that we receive them at all. It is for this that we also obey the commandments, avoid sin, cultivate virtue and seek to live a life morally acceptable to God. Our Catholic faith, identity and life are not, therefore, a fringe reality of our lives: they are its core. They are our preparation for resurrection. They should therefore be the central concern of our lives. The sacraments are not mere occasions for a feast or new clothes; they are not merely juridical obligations. They sow within us the seed of eternity! Why, o why, are we so slow to receive them worthily and frequently? When we lie in our graves, we will be mourned by those who love us. Our bodies, like planted seeds, will dissolve winter-like into the earth. But when the fullness of spring time comes, we shall be raised. Our tombstones will be shattered and what died in the earth shall blossom forth in the strength and beauty of the Holy Spirit, and we will become one Body and one Spirit in Christ for the glory of God the Father for all eternity. This is the promise of our baptism, nurtured by the rest of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

Over the silence of death, as at the graveside of Lazarus, the loud cry of the voice of Jesus Christ will be heard, summoning us to resurrection. Of course, we have to be able to recognize that voice. That is why we must listen to it now and every day of our mortal lives, especially in the Gospel proclaimed to us at Mass. That is why we must be prepared to listen to Christ speak through the teaching authority of the Church. And in our conscience, we must also listen to him, distinguishing his truth from the easy lies we so often tell ourselves while appealing to conscience. If your conscience contradicts what the Church teaches, it contradicts Christ: it is deceiving us. A right conscience and a willing, humble and obedient heart will allow you to pick up the voice of Jesus without interference and will make you all ears for the day of resurrection.

Death is not the work of God, but of sin. Christ takes no pleasure in the death of any man. He created us for abundant, eternal life. Do not doubt this and you will never despair. He weeps for you as he wept for Lazarus. Give him, then, the chance also to cry out to you: “My friend! My dear, dear friend! Death is no place for you! Arise and come forth from that tomb!”

Msgr. Peter Magee

Sunday, March 13^th, 2005: St. Andrew Apostle, Silver Spring: 5.00 pm Vigil & 11.30 am