Mar 31, 2014
Ezekiel
37:12-14
Psalm 130:1-8
Romans 8:8-11
John 11:1-45
As we draw near to the end of Lent, today's Gospel clearly has
Jesus' passion and death in view.
That's why John gives us the detail about Lazarus' sister, Mary -
that she is the one who anointed the Lord for burial (see John
12:3,7). His disciples warn against returning to Judea;
Thomas even predicts they will "die with Him" if they go back.
When Lazarus is raised, John notices the tombstone being taken
away, as well as Lazarus' burial cloths and head covering - all
details he later notices with Jesus' empty tomb (see John
20:1,6,7).
Like the blind man in last week's readings, Lazarus represents all
humanity. He stands for "dead man" - for all those Jesus loves and
wants to liberate from the bands of sin and death.
John even recalls the blind man in his account today (see John
11:37). Like the man's birth in blindness, Lazarus'
death is used by Jesus to reveal "the glory of God" (see John
9:3). And again like last week, Jesus' words and deeds
give sight to those who believe (see John
11:40).
If we believe, we will see - that Jesus loves each of us as He
loved Lazarus, that He calls us out of death and into new life.
By His Resurrection Jesus has fulfilled Ezekiel's promise in
today's First Reading. He has opened the graves that we may rise,
put His Spirit in us that we may live. This is the Spirit that Paul
writes of in today's Epistle. The same Spirit that raised Jesus
from the dead will give life to we who were once dead in sin.
Faith is the key. If we believe as Martha does in today's Gospel -
that Jesus is the resurrection and the life - even if we die, we
will live.
"I have promised and I will do it," the Father assures us in the
First Reading. We must trust in His word, as we sing in today's
Psalm - that with Him is forgiveness and
salvation.