Beloved in Christ,
Mary and Martha’s experience of grief at the death of their brother, Lazarus, is a universal one. Jesus, who loved Lazarus and his sisters, similarly expressed the same sorrow when he met the reality of Lazarus’ death and how it threw his sisters into emotional distress. In truth and deed, death stuns and stinks. Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus because he experienced the sting of death and it must have dawned on him at this close connection to the death of a loved one that this was not God’s original plan for humanity at creation. Sin brought about death and graves. Jesus, however, did not stop at sharing in human grief over death. Jesus wept, but he followed his display of sorrow with the restoration of life to Lazarus. Jesus says to Mary, “I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die” (Jn 11:25-26).
Jesus defeats sin and death through the life-giving spirit of God. Jesus is the author of life. Turning to his Father in prayer, Jesus called Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, back to life: “Lazarus, come out!” (Jn 11: 43). In Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy to the Israelites in exile: “O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them” (Ez 37:12). Jesus brings to fulfilment the promise of God to restore life to the dead through his spirit who gives life: “I will put my spirit in you that you may live” (Ez 37:14). The spirit that death snuffs out at death is returned by Jesus who not only declared himself as the resurrection and life but indeed was raised from the dead on the third day. All who believe and live through his spirit will not be defeated by death because Jesus made a promise to bring them to life at the resurrection. St. Paul affirms Jesus’ promise about spirit and life in the following words: “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Rom 8:11).
The necessary condition for placing hope in the resurrection of the dead is our faith in Jesus. In his words
to Martha, Jesus declares, “Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(Jn 11:26). As believers in Jesus, as people who live in and by the spirit of Christ, we must never allow the stench of death to suffocate us. As Christians, we are hopeful of life after death because Jesus assures us. Beyond Lazarus' death lies the hope of the resurrection of glorified bodies of those who believed in Jesus and lived in his spirit. May God keep us striving against all the sufferings of life and walking confidently through the dark valley of life.
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Let us be prepared to walk with Jesus into Jerusalem to fulfil his mission
of dying to bring us life. Let our hearts be prepared to encounter the spirit of Christ in the liturgy of the
Holy Week.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
Mary and Martha’s experience of grief at the death of their brother, Lazarus, is a universal one. Jesus, who loved Lazarus and his sisters, similarly expressed the same sorrow when he met the reality of Lazarus’ death and how it threw his sisters into emotional distress. In truth and deed, death stuns and stinks. Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus because he experienced the sting of death and it must have dawned on him at this close connection to the death of a loved one that this was not God’s original plan for humanity at creation. Sin brought about death and graves. Jesus, however, did not stop at sharing in human grief over death. Jesus wept, but he followed his display of sorrow with the restoration of life to Lazarus. Jesus says to Mary, “I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die” (Jn 11:25-26).
Jesus defeats sin and death through the life-giving spirit of God. Jesus is the author of life. Turning to his Father in prayer, Jesus called Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, back to life: “Lazarus, come out!” (Jn 11: 43). In Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy to the Israelites in exile: “O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them” (Ez 37:12). Jesus brings to fulfilment the promise of God to restore life to the dead through his spirit who gives life: “I will put my spirit in you that you may live” (Ez 37:14). The spirit that death snuffs out at death is returned by Jesus who not only declared himself as the resurrection and life but indeed was raised from the dead on the third day. All who believe and live through his spirit will not be defeated by death because Jesus made a promise to bring them to life at the resurrection. St. Paul affirms Jesus’ promise about spirit and life in the following words: “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Rom 8:11).
The necessary condition for placing hope in the resurrection of the dead is our faith in Jesus. In his words
to Martha, Jesus declares, “Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(Jn 11:26). As believers in Jesus, as people who live in and by the spirit of Christ, we must never allow the stench of death to suffocate us. As Christians, we are hopeful of life after death because Jesus assures us. Beyond Lazarus' death lies the hope of the resurrection of glorified bodies of those who believed in Jesus and lived in his spirit. May God keep us striving against all the sufferings of life and walking confidently through the dark valley of life.
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Let us be prepared to walk with Jesus into Jerusalem to fulfil his mission
of dying to bring us life. Let our hearts be prepared to encounter the spirit of Christ in the liturgy of the
Holy Week.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
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