Fifth Sunday of Lent (John 11:1-45) “Faith That Sets Us Free.”

Fifth Sunday of Lent (John 11:1-45) “Faith That Sets Us Free.”

        The Gospel of John has no Transfiguration account.  The other Gospels have this story at their center.  We always read of the Transfiguration on the second Sunday of Lent.  The story of Jesus revealing his glory to his Apostles is a dramatic turning point in the life of Christ.  We remember how a voice calls down from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  With that revelation Jesus moves toward Jerusalem where he will die.

        The Gospel of John doesn’t have a Transfiguration account because the whole Gospel slowly reveals the identity of Jesus.  The Gospel is made up of seven signs (miracles) starting with the changing of the water into wine at Cana.  The story of the raising of Lazarus is the sixth sign in the series.  The story isn’t in any of the other Gospels. 

        The names of people in the Gospels often have a hidden meaning.  So it is, with Lazarus.   Lazarus is a name that means “God helps.”  Bethany, the place where Lazarus is resuscitated, is a name that means, “house of the afflicted.”  Jesus goes to the house of the afflicted to help Lazarus.  God intervenes directly in the life of Lazarus bringing life to where there is death.

        Only after Jesus restores Lazarus, does he move forward to Jerusalem.  The seventh sign, the greatest sign, happens there.  The resurrection is the greatest sign of all.

        People come to understand who Jesus is at different times in the Gospel of John.  We see three people making statements of belief in the Lazarus story.  All of them grabble with the mystery of death.  All of them make a profession of faith. 

        The first profession of faith is one we forget about.  When we start the Gospel for today, we hear how Jesus is staying away from Jerusalem.  The tension with the leaders of the Jews, has grown to a point of no return.  The religious authorities are accusing Jesus of blasphemy.  Jesus claims to be the voice of God.  As religious people, we can understand this tension.  Whenever a religious figure claims to speak for God, we grow uncomfortable, don’t we?  Some preachers cross over a line.  The leaders of the Jewish people felt Jesus had done this.  He had to be silenced.

        Jesus was staying away from them, but then he hears that Lazarus is sick.  Bethany was close to Jerusalem.  His apostles try to talk him out of going to this place.  The disciples feared for Jesus’ life.  The disciples feared for their lives.  Jesus obviously feels that life or death no longer matter.  Personal safety is to be cast aside.  At that moment, Thomas makes a statement of fidelity.  “Let us go to die with him.”

        The other two people in the Gospel who make a profession of faith are Martha and Mary.  But as always, they operate on different levels of consciousness.  Martha goes out to meet Jesus while Mary contemplates the meaning of death of her brother at home.  Martha says she believes that Jesus has the power over life and death, but she quickly qualifies her belief.  “You are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is to come into the world.”  In other words, she believes that Jesus is the Messiah.  She stops short of saying Jesus is divine.

        Mary is then called out of the house.  She says simply, “If you would have been here my brother would never have died.”  She believes unequivocally in Jesus’ power as God.  She doesn’t qualify her belief.  She is unafraid.  She has complete confidence in Jesus’ power to give life.  Jesus’ resurrection had already changed her life.

        The transforming power of the resurrection isn’t something we have to wait for.  Like Mary, we can be changed right now.  I was recently with a woman who was informed that she was going into hospice.  I am often around people who are dying.  The death experience is an anxious time for most of us.  I would say that it isn’t a question of having faith or not.  But there is a different level of consciousness with certain people.  I wanted to say something comforting to the woman who was dying.  The usual pastoral response at such times is to say, “You are going to a better place where your suffering will be over.  Jesus will take care of you.”  But before I could speak, she spoke.  She shared her confidence in God’s plan.  Her life had come full circle.  Death was just part of life.  She reassured everyone.  I have seen this attitude in others. And it is always a graced moment to be with someone like this. She reassured me.

        We could say that this was the consciousness of Mary, sister of Lazarus.  Such deep conviction is a gift that can change our lives long before we face death.  Mundane things take on the proper perspective.  Worrying is left behind.  Death is seen as a portal into eternity.  We can imagine that Lazarus had such a perspective when he got a new lease on life.  He was unbound.  He was set free.  The stench of death was left behind.  Darkness was turned into light.  Today, we pray for the gift of unshakable faith in the promises of resurrection.  We can ask for no greater grace than this.

Reflection Questions:

1.  How do I feel about Jesus?  Is he God?

2.  Have I ever been around someone who faced death with courage?  How did they live life?

Dear Parishioners,

        The sixth Sunday of Lent has two names, Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday.  We are reminded that there are two emotions that we feel today.  One is the joy we sense as Jesus marches into Jerusalem.  People recognize Jesus as Messiah and Lord.  The second feeling is one of sadness as we read of the Passion of the Lord.  The prophet of peace and charity is crucified.  God’s Son is executed.

        How often do we hear people who are charitable, ridiculed and made fun of in our world?  When we have leaders who believe in the goodness of humanity they are dismissed as naïve or a threat.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey indicating that he would be a servant leader.  He did not crave power for power’s sake.  He handed himself over to death.

        The Holy Week liturgies reflect the paradox that was the life of Jesus.  This also represents the life we are called to.  We are to die to self so that others might have more abundant life.  As we pray this week let us recommit ourselves to this ideal.

        May Our Lady of Sorrows pray for us we gather for the Holy Triduum.

        Fr. Mark