Fifth Sunday of the Lent, Year A – Joh 11:1-45: Resurrection of Lazarus

Fr. Joseph Pandiappalli MCBS

On the fifth Sunday of lent we heard about Lazarus rising from the dead. Death and resurrection are important themes of a Christian’s day to day life because in every Eucharistic celebration we commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Holy Week we commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus very consciously and let in the hope of our own resurrection.

Lazarus was a friend of Jesus. He was dead and was buried for four days. Jesus raised him from the dead. Lazarus got a new life. It was returning to the earlier life from which he had to say good by through his death and burial. Whether Lazarus war really dead or he was only in coma, that could be a theme for discussion. But the people found him dead and had buried him. Now Lazarus returns to life. It was like a new birth, a sign of the glory of God. Today we may not experience any one who was dead and returned to life through resurrection as Lazarus could.

Through the resurrection Lazarus got a second chance to live and act in many respects of life where he could not do justice in his first chance. He got a second chance to correct some of his mistakes and to rectify some of his omissions. This miracle to exoress the glory of God was for Lazarus a second chance; but for the audience at that time and for all the followers of Christ who read the story of Lazarus a sign and a warning because we may not get a second chance like Lazarus. The second chance of Lazarus remind us about our only one chance to do good, to believe in Christ and to proclaim good news.

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”, said Martha. As Jesus met Maria a few minutes later , Maria said the same. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”,. It is interesting to see that both Mary and Martha made the same commend about the person of Jesus. Martha and Mary were entirely different personalities. Both were friends of Jesus; but experienced Jesus differently. But both had the same intensity of confidence in Jesus. Although Mary spend more time with Jesus and Martha was active and found less time even to talk to Jesus, the intensity of relationship and the confidence in Jesus for both sisters were same. Their difference in nature and difference in lifestyle did not make any difference in their relation to Jesus. Therefore both Martha and Maria said the same thing to Jesus expressing their confidence in him. The same could be our case too. The difference in nature, difference in profession or difference in personal aptitude do not make any difference in relation to Jesus. Every one could equally a friend to Jesus and build up an intensive relationship to Jesus and confidence with Him.

The evangelist says that Jesus cried at the romp of Lazarus and the people around observed the intensive friendship of Jesus with Lazarus. It is true that Jesus loves every one as he loved Lazarus. Martha and Maria recognised it and had full confidence in Jesus. We are invited in this lent season to recognise and acknowledge the love and commitment of Jesus and build up our confidence in him as Martha and Maria had. The second chance that Jesus gives us may not be a return to natural life after death as Lazarus could enjoy. But Jesus may confer on us his grace and let us be born into a new and a genuine spiritual birth, a metanoia, leading to the hope and joy of resurrection.

Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS

Daily Reading, Saints

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