Homily for the week of April 10, 2011

The Fifth Sunday in Lent, 2011

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Romans 8:8-11

John 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

During the past two weeks we have been reflecting on the image of water, of blindness, of light and of darkness. Specifically, we have considered water as it is used in Baptism. In past weeks we heard of the conversion of the woman who came to get water from the well where Jesus was, and of the blind man for whom Jesus gave back his sight through clay and a little water. And today we heard of the return to life of Lazarus who was dead.

Whether you have been a Catholic for many years or you are a young person Resurrection is a word and belief loaded with lots of questions. In the next two weeks we will hear a lot about Resurrection. Easter is about the Resurrection of Jesus who had been nailed to a cross. Baptism is about the Resurrection. If Jesus had not risen from his death there would be no St. James Church, no Catholic Churches, in fact no Christian Churches and religions. That Jesus died but also rose from his death is the basis of our Catholic faith. Our three readings today in one way or other describe resurrection.

The Resurrection of Jesus teaches us that death is not the end of life. Rather, death is the doorway into a new and eternal life. The life that we now live is not all there is, as some people claim. The pains and troubles of this life can be endured because we believe that something better is to come. If we believe that Jesus was raised after his death, then that motivates us to also believe the other things Jesus taught us. Our Christian faith stands or falls with the truth that Jesus rose from his death. Otherwise, Jesus would be a failed religious leader. He would be purely human. But it is also most important for us to believe that the Risen body of Jesus at Easter is not a resuscitated corpse but a completely new way of living for him. In the very same way our entry into heaven when we die will also be a completely new way of living for us.

For thousands of years people have imagined what this life after death would be like. The Bible does not give us detailed descriptions about this life, but it has hundreds of references to it. Over the centuries there has been no lack of books written by those who have claimed to have been there and come back. But a study of the Bible which is God’s word will give us all we need.

But the belief in Resurrection did not begin with Jesus. In the life of Jewish persons before Jesus, Resurrection grew into a picture of a new life and hope while the Jewish people were living in exile. Ezekiel tells us the story of Dry Bones in a field bleached by the sun. It is a picture of utter hopelessness. In whatever direction the Jews walked, lifeless bones filled the valleys. The Jews in Babylon had been dead in their faith. When they had left God they had nothing to hold on to. But Ezekiel sees his people’s dry bones coming to life again with flesh restored upon them. They will now see God with new eyes. These dry bones came back to life after God breathed on them. The people that seemed to be dead will come to life again.

The Gospel gives us the story of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha who had died. We are told that Lazarus was bound from head to toe when he was taken out of the tomb. Jesus tells his sisters Martha and Mary: UNTIE HIM AND LET HIM GO. They untied Lazarus and he was given life again. What Jesus does for Lazarus, God will do for Jesus at Easter.

But the message of Jesus is not just for Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. It is also important for us. In the middle of the account, Jesus declares: I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, EVEN IF HE DIES, WILL LIVE, AND EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE. Most of us may regard eternal life as something which begins only when we die. But for those who believe in Jesus eternal life has already begun. Who we are now is what we shall be forever. For us, as for Jesus, physical death is not a defeat. Rather, it is another step on our way to fulness in God.

Jesus spent quite a lot of time in Bethany with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. These were people who loved him. And people whom he loved. Undoubtedly, this helped Jesus to carry out the mission that God had given him. What is so striking about this miracle of raising Lazarus from death, is that it was right after this that the Sanhedrin made their decision to kill Jesus.

Getting life from the dry bones, and the restoring of life to Lazarus can in one sense be called conversion. For many conversion can mean changing from one religion to another. But in a more personal way it also means changing from one way of life to another.

Most persons who are honest with themselves will admit that at some time in their life they have gone through at least one conversion experience. They have finally gotten loose from the things that tied them up. They returned to God after being away from God and Jesus for years, or even for a short time. People who have gone through this experience mention that they often feel some inner sickness and even death in the process. They want more, and usually want to be closer to Jesus by practicing their religious faith again.

But all of us need conversion experiences in our life. That is one of the main purposes of Lent. We need to return to the Lord part of our faith that has become weak or taken for granted. These could be spiritual and personal inconsistencies between what we say we believe and how we act.

In a sense we are all visitors on this earth. We all need to have friends, people with whom we can be at home. Over the past weekends, and through our prayers, and the spiritual reading that has been available to you, we too have been invited to conversion. It is a time for our “sick souls” to be raised up. In sharing this Mass we are nourished for this conversion. And so again we gather to break and share Jesus, the Bread of Life. This week let each us appreciate our life. Let us give comfort to someone who is sick. And especially, let us help someone who may feel that they have lost their faith in God and in Jesus.