More Lenten gifts from God are offered to us this Sunday! This time the Lord offers us the gift of profound belief that death is not the end for us.
We read in the Gospel, "Jesus said to [Martha], 'Your brother [Lazarus] will rise... Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God.'"
We know that death for Jesus is but a form of sleep. He says so several times in this passage. Death is not a permanent state. Do you and I believe this?
Revelation teaches us that death wasn't part of the original plan of God. And thus you and I have difficulty accepting it, and regularly grieve at the temporary separations we experience with loved ones. Jesus himself grieved at the tomb of his dear friend Lazarus! He certainly understands from the inside just how difficult death is for us. We read that his entrails are moved with compassion at the experience and he is "perturbed" in spirit. Death will certainly be difficult for him too, and especially for his mother who must watch him die.
But death never has the last word! Life does. Jesus reminds us of this over and over. He is Life Itself! We are invited to receive this truth as a profound gift this Lent. Death is but a passageway to eternal life. Our task is simply to surrender ourselves and our loved ones to his Mercy, allowing ourselves to be filled with his Life, with his Spirit.
All this is summarized nicely in our second reading this Sunday: "The one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you." Yes!!
-Fr. Anthony Wieck, SJ
No comments:
Post a Comment