LENT IS A TIME OF RISING FROM WHERE WE LAY

 

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Scriptural Texts: Ezekiel 37:12:14, Romans 8:8-11, John 11:1-45

 

On this fifth Sunday in Lent, our Lenten journey with Jesus takes us to a strange location, the tomb. This is seen in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-42). Generally, the tomb is the resting place of the dead. It is a symbol of death and the end of life. But in Christianity, especially with the death and resurrection of Jesus, our understanding of the tomb has taken up a new meaning. The tomb has come to represent for us, the ultimate triumph over death and the promise of eternal life. So, when Jesus takes us to the tomb on this fifth  Sunday of Lent, it is to prove to us his power over death and to assure us the pledge of life eternal.

In the Bible, we find three instances where Jesus raised the dead to life. First is the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:22-23). The second is the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), and the third is the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45). Amongst these three miracles, the raising of Lazarus is unique because at the point of the miracle, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days, and would already be smelling (John 11:39). However, despite this condition, Jesus was still able to raise him back to life in order to teach us that no matter how foul and festering our situation is, he is able to turn it around. No matter how deep our despair or how long we have been dead in sin, Jesus can restore us to life. It does not matter how long you have borne your troubles. No stone is too heavy for Jesus to roll away.

From today’s gospel passage, we understand that Jesus and Lazarus were friends but then, Jesus did not raise Lazarus from the dead solely on account of their friendship. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead because of the faith of the sisters of Lazarus in the resurrection of the dead (John 11:21-27). What this tells us is that faith in Jesus can overcome death and other afflictions of life. Whenever we find ourselves in Bethany (a house of grief and affliction), let us always remember that God is our help as the name of Lazarus depicts, and our faith in Jesus can bring us the restoration and transformation that we need.

When Jesus got to the place, the gospel passage tells us that he was deeply moved by the grief of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, and the other mourners. As a concrete expression of his empathy and compassion, Jesus wept with them and shared in their sorrow (John 11:35). The lesson we learn from this is that Jesus shares in our plight. He weeps with us when we are mourning and he rejoices with us when we are celebrating. He teaches us to do the same for others. Let us learn to show compassion and empathy to others especially those in need.

Today, Jesus is calling out to us in the same way as he called Lazarus to come out (John 11:43). However, this time around, he is not calling us to come out of the tombs of death but from the tombs of sin, spiritual stagnation, darkness, unforgiveness, self-centeredness, hatred, anger, sexual immorality, jealousy and what have you. A tomb is anything that separates us from the source of light, Jesus himself. As such, the Lenten season is a time of rising from our different tombs where we lay. It is a time unbinding ourselves from every chain and bondage of addictions and bad habits. Unbind yourself and unbind those you are holding captive. We pray that this season of Lent may be a time of renewal for us. May we turn to Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life, and may we be transformed by his love and mercy. And may the hope and new life of the resurrection fill us with joy and peace. Amen.