Homilies

CALLED TO TRANSFORMATION AND NEW LIFE

These days, all of us experience a lot of deaths.  Deaths of members of our families, deaths of our friends and fellow workers. It is always a sad moment.  So we can appreciate the beautiful story that John tells us about Jesus’ experiencing the death of his good friend.  Jesus wept, just like you and me do so often these days!

Today’s gospel is an evidence of why the Gospel of John was written: “So that you may believe.” The glory of God is revealed through the death of a friend of Jesus, Lazarus. On being told that the man whom he loved was ill, Jesus replied, “The sickness will not end in death, but in God’s glory, and through it the Son of God will be glorified.”  It is in the miracle of Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead that the glory of God shines forth.   Indeed, all three scripture readings today are centred on the life that God gives to all people.

In the first reading, Ezekiel’s prophecy was really not about the resurrection of the dead as we generally understand it nowadays. The image of graves opening up really is about the return of the deported Israelites to their homeland. It is about the hope that God promised the Israelites that one day they would be liberated from exile.  This is hope for new life, like rising from the dead!

The second reading today talks of true life in the Spirit. Paul tells the Romans and tells us that it is through the Spirit that God will give eternal life to all the people.  Even though our bodies may be dead, the Spirit will raise us up, just as Jesus was raised up.  This is what we look forward to celebrate in two weeks, the great feast of Easter.

John tells us, in his beautiful story, that when Jesus arrives in the village of Bethany, he meets the two sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  These two sisters play important roles in the unfolding of the drama. Martha went quickly to meet Jesus, though she was unhappy that he was not with them to prevent the tragedy of death.   In response Jesus does not only promise that Lazarus would rise (which Martha knew would happen on the last day), but that Jesus himself is the resurrection and the life. So there is no need to wait for the end of time.

On the other hand, the other sister, Mary, expresses her great sorrow at Jesus’ late arrival. Fortunately, this led to Jesus’ frank expression of great sorrow, deep affection, real tears, and finally to the crucial question: “Where have you put him?” And then the whole drama of raising Lazarus starts.

While Martha’s encounter with Jesus led her to words that proclaimed Jesus as the resurrection and life, Mary’s encounter with Jesus led to action of the same truth.

The themes of resurrection from the dead that all three readings present today can help us understand the kind of transformation or change that all of us Christians are constantly called to.  Transformation or change is never easy and is often painful.  It is sometimes called conversion, a turning away from something and a turning towards something.  Turning away from sin, turning toward grace, turning away from hatred, turning toward love.

As we celebrate the fifth Sunday of Lent, we are reminded that we can only experience transformation or conversion if we are ready to die to our old-self. True life that comes with the resurrection of Christ demands that we strive to become better Christians by changing our ways of life. How much change have we actually experienced during this 2005 season of Lent? Are we so used to our old-self in such a way that we do not hope for any new life in Christ? This is what today’s scripture readings are challenging us to reflect about.

Taking the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation can also be an occasion of experiencing this conversion, this transformation, to the new life of Christ. Surely Lent offers us a good opportunity to prepare well and receive peacefully this Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Gospel story also has an interesting detail we can learn from.  John tells us that many friends of Martha and Mary traveled to Bethany from Jerusalem to console the sisters over the death of their beloved brother.  In what spirit do we go to the many funerals we may be called to these days in Zambia?  Do we go as Christians who really believe in the resurrection of the dead?  Do we go as friends who console by the love and support we show the bereaved?  Do we offer to help in the many tasks that frequently accompany a funeral?

In a few more days, we will be moving into Holy Week, the time of recalling the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  In our small Christian communities this week, let’s ask ourselves questions like this:

• How do we evaluate our experience of Lent this year – has it offered anything new and important for us?

• What is our attitude to death?  Do we see it as the end of everything or the beginning of something new and glorious?  

• Is there anyone in our community or Church that we should particularly reach out to in order to bring hope and new life?

Let us pray that Easter 2005 will really be a time of transformation for all of us!

SKETCH

Let us have a dishonest leader, who does teach his/her people. Then a good friend to advice the dishonest leader. The dishonest leader then changes and becomes a good citizen. He calls all the people and apologizes for his/her previous acts and then is willingly accepted by all.

COMMUNITY PRAYERS.

• God, strength our Small Christian communities, so that we draw close to your son Jesus on our world of today. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.
• God, we thank you for guiding us this Lenten season, we also ask for your grace to be transformed into good people. Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, hear our prayer.

[Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, P.O. Box 37774, 10101 Lusaka, Zambia]