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FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT; Cycle – A; March 29, 2020Ezekiel 37: 12-14; Romans 8: 8-11; John 11: 1-45??Last couple weeks we are moving through some of the best readings in the whole liturgical year. Two weeks ago, we had the story of the woman at the well where Jesus was presenting himself as the water for the thirsty soul. Last week we had the story of the man born blind where Jesus presenting himself as the true light which wipes away the spiritual blindness. And today we have the wonderful story of the raising of Lazarus where Jesus is presenting himself as the life and resurrection.In this Gospel, Jesus is given the message that his friend Lazarus is ill. Jesus, however, waits two days to begin the journey and arrives four days after Lazarus died. Why is the delay? Jesus’ reaction to the news gives us the hint that there is a great purpose in his mind. He said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God …” What is the glory of God? St. Irenaeus answered, “The glory of God is a human fully alive.” What makes us less alive or half-dead is our sin. Here Lazarus, who was in the tomb for four days represents someone who is totally sunk in sin, totally dead spiritually.When Jesus arrived, Lazarus’ sister discouraged Jesus from opening the tomb by saying surely there will be a stench. From a spiritual sense, we are not comfortable when Jesus probes our soul and our sins, yet our God is never disgusted by our human condition. Psalm 139 acknowledges this: “Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol (the dead), there you are.” As a friend, Jesus only longs to heal us and resurrect us to the fullness of life for he said, “I came so that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Therefore, what saddens God’s heart is when we allow death to reign in us.At the tomb, the Gospel says that Jesus was perturbed. St. Augustine said this expresses God’s frustration when we are spiritually dead and cannot thrive as human beings made in his image and likeness. Jesus’ mercy wants to set us free. Jesus asked Mary, “Where have you laid him?” This has a connection to the very beginning of humanity. It resembles God searching for his lost friend. God called to Adam and Eve after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit and asked, “Where are you?” It’s God in Christ asking here to Lazarus; to you and me who have wandered away in spiritual death. Before sinning, they were in fellowship with God, but now they are hiding form Him. Our tendency is to hide from the one we offend. When caught we offer excuses, we blame others, but we rarely say, “I damaged my relationship with you and I’m sorry.” We can put an end to the exile Adam and Eve began allowing Jesus to find us. Looking at the tombs of our sins in which we are buried, Jesus is calling, “come out”. Sometimes we hear a tiny voice say, “No, I rather enjoy it in here.” When our Lord asked, “Where have you laid him?”, He was saying to Lazarus and to us, “I must find you! I am the remedy!”Here is the message of the story. No matter where you are, how far you are fallen, how dead you are, the voice of Jesus can call you back to life; can pull you out of the tomb. When Lazarus came out of the tomb, Jesus commanded the bystanders; “untie him and let him go”, because God hates death, God hates the ways of death. He hates all the ways we managed to tie ourselves up and put ourselves in grave. So let us listen to that voice which delivers us from the tombs of our sins and spiritual death. ................
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