Jesus tells Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life" (Jn 11: 25). Jesus promises Martha that her brother, Lazarus, will be raised from the dead because Jesus can restore life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. This declaration is of great importance and effect to Martha and Mary as they are to all of us who are spiritually dead in sin. As we get closer to the remembrance and deeper participation in the passion of Christ, as we approach Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday next week, we should be seeking Christ's resurrection of our spiritual life if they have suffered deadly wounds inflicted by sin; Jesus desires to give life back to our souls so that we may celebrate with joyful praise the paschal mystery.
As with the elect who will present themselves to Christ, who gave us the sacraments to lift us to eternal life, we, too, those already baptized, should be preparing our sinful souls for Jesus to heal and redeem them through the sacrament of penance. We are all sinners; we have sinned and need a remedy for our spiritually sick souls.
What is sin? It is an act contrary to reason, a choice to violate God's law of love. It is mortal when it involves grave matter and is done freely and with awareness of doing it. It may be mortal or venial; it may have broken or severed our relationship with God or done some light damage to it, as the case may be. Whatever the case, sin is like cancer that grows, and only Jesus, through the merits of his passion, death and resurrection, can cure it. He does it for us in the sacrament of reconciliation. The parish is holding her penance service on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Please, properly examine your conscience and come to the service to receive new life if you know you need it. Jesus is ever-loving and forgiving. He wants to forgive us, but we must acknowledge that we are sinners and confess our sins to his priests. Please take some time to check the Holy Week schedule and make plans to be fully involved in all the preparation for Easter.
Please note that I will be the speaker at the Elizabethtown Ministerium Lenten service on Wednesday at Sell Chapel. It starts at 7 p.m. I would like your support by praying for me and attending in large numbers. Thanks.
Fr. Bernard, O.P.