The Master Is Here!

(Homily for the 5^th Sunday of Lent Yr. A)

          The predominant theme around which revolve the three readings of today is God’s power, orchestrated in the resurrection to newness of life. This divine power is manifested in the first reading through the Israelites who were extremely humiliated, and were compared to open graves. Despite all odds, this people will rise again by God’s mighty deed and intervention. Again, in the Gospel, the power of God was manifested in an unprecedented manner in Christ who raised his friend Lazarus to life, who died for already four days and in the tomb.With the passage of this Gospel, the Liturgy of the word today inspires us to adhere to Jesus Christ with a convinced and enthusiastic faith: Jesus is the Lord of life, He is the Son of God, and the promised Messiah. And by extension this divine power will be made manifest in all Christians. The divine power of God as St. Paul expressed in the second reading is and will be manifest in all the faithful through the Holy Spirit who will regenerate them into the life of God’s children, and at the end of time, he will vivify our mortal bodies, and enable it to participate in the glory of the risen Christ. Gradually, the Lenten season is approaching its epilogue, that is, the celebration of the mystery of the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Christ reveals the destiny of all humanity. For the resurrection of Christ is the beginning, the sign and the cause of our resurrection.

         In the first reading (Ez. 37:12-14) we see the conclusion and Ezekiel’s interpretation of the vision of the valley of dry bones, which was a battle field and later restored to life. The passage is full of symbols. The bones are identified with Israel in exile, and the resurrection of the bones points to Israel’s restoration from Babylonian exile to their land. Furthermore, the passage shifted from dry bones to graves: “I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves.” The reference to graves is suggestive of the fact that already at the time of Ezekiel there was a gradual emergence of the expectation of general resurrection at the last day (cf. Is. 26:19). This expectation was later developed by the apocalyptic literature. However, in our present passage the language of the future hope points to Israel’s return from exile. Indeed, it is likened to resurrection from the grave. At the heart of this figurative resurrection is God’s action, who will bring his people to newness of life and will put his Spirit in them. In all, therefore, in this passage we see the two levels of resurrection: the restoration of his people and the eschatological resurrection of the dead.

          The episode of today’s Gospel (Jn. 11:1-45) indeed, not only reveals the divinity of Jesus, but also it reveals his humanity, for he wept for the death of his dear friend Lazarus, and he manifested the sentiment of friendship to Martha and Mary. Through this miracle Jesus manifested himself as true God and true man. The symbol in the prophecy of Ezekiel became a reality in the case of Lazarus. He was a real man, who was living in Bethany, with his sisters (Mary and Martha). He felt sick and died. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus has stayed four days in the tomb, this period in the Jewish tradition and mentality is a period suggestive of a definitive end. But Jesus went to the tomb and called Lazarus out. Indeed, it is true that while the experience of Lazarus is a reality-show of the symbolic narrative of Ezekiel, more still, it refers to another superior reality: the Death and Resurrection of Christ. And connecting the first reading and the Gospel, we can say confidently that there is a transcendent process in the understanding of Resurrection. First, it was a symbol of liberation and participation to a joyful life in the Land God promised to his people. And again, it is a real and historical passage from death to life. This passage from death to life adopts new and insuperable consideration in Christ, who dying won victory over death and regained life for ever! With this miracle Jesus intends to anticipate the great event of his passion and death. Indeed, what happened in the case of Lazarus for himself alone, the Resurrection of Jesus accomplishes that for all humanity. His death overcomes the death of man, and his resurrection is a pledge of the resurrection of man.

          The evangelist placed the event of the raising of Lazarus at a crucial position in the ministry of Jesus. In fact, it occasioned Jesus’ last journey to Judea and Jerusalem, and the resurrection of Lazarus sets in motion the events that will lead to the crucifixion of Jesus. The placing of this event at this time in the mission of Jesus reveals that Jesus goes to his death as the resurrection and the life. As such, through this miracle Jesus attracted the attention of the Jewish leaders who started planning for His execution. It is one of the main reason for the death of Jesus in the fourth Gospel (cf. Jn.11:45-53). Prior to this miracle, Jesus had raised the daughter of Jairus (Lk. 8:41-42, 49-56), and the son of the widow of Nain (Lk. 7:11-17). Though in the Old testament Elijah and Elisha raised people from the dead (1Kgs 17:17-24; 2Kgs 4:17-37). But no where has it been recorded that someone was raised after four days. This makes this miracle of today’s Gospel, extraordinary and unique. The miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus was a real EVENT. Furthermore,  the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus is indeed a manifestation of the final destiny of every believer, for Jesus says: “whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live…he will not die forever.” This miracle confirms that faith triumphs over death. The evangelist on his part through this Gospel narrative, wants to lead us to adherence to Christ through a convinced and matured faith, as exemplified in the dialogue between Jesus and Martha.

          As we can see, faith requires generally a progressive development, a gradually maturity, it is a journey. And we can see this in the person of Martha, the sister of Lazarus who said to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (Jn. 11:21). Martha is still uncertain about the identity of Jesus. If she had known Jesus’ identity, she could have known that the miracle can be realized, with or without the physical presence of Jesus. Indeed, sometimes we are like Martha, that conjugate the verb of our faith and hope in the past: “if you had been here”. Jesus is always present. Not only that, even when he assures Martha that her brother “will rise again” (Jn. 11:23), she instead conjugated the verb of her faith in the remote future: “I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day” (Jn. 11:24). Once again she has not understood who Jesus is, except when Jesus declared vehemently: “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25), and he assured her that whoever believes in Him, even if he dies will live again. Then, Martha added “Yes Lord, … I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn.11:27). Afterwards, she ran and gave the message of hope to her sister, Mary: “The Master is here” (Jn. 11:28). And no doubt, the presence of the Master was felt. His presence changes everything. His presence restores hope and vivifies life!  Finally, Martha arrived at the understanding of who Jesus is, because faith is a step by step journey. However, we are called to embark on this journey, in order to avoid the risk of remaining in doubt or in uncertainty.

         Behold, when Lazarus was about to die, they informed Jesus: “The one whom you love is sick.” At that time Jesus was with his disciples in a serene place, because of the hatred of the Jews who have decided to kill him. For this, his disciples were surprised that he wanted to turn back to Judea in order to see his friend Lazarus. And they reminded him: “Master a little while ago the Jews wanted to kill you and now you want to go in their midst?”. Indeed, Jesus knew what awaits him in Jerusalem. Little wonder he said: “Now let’s go to Jerusalem, there the son of man will be handed over to his enemies.” Not minding the danger of meeting the Jews again, Jesus was moved by the love he has for his friend. And not only Lazarus, Jesus has continued to manifest his love towards man, even in his rebellion and spiritual death. Jesus’ love for humanity in this episode finds its most touching manifestation: he wept! He did not hide his emotions. And the people around exclaimed: “See how much he loved him” (Jn. 11:36).

          At the peak of that episode, after praying, Jesus said in a deep voice, “Lazarus come out!” (Jn.11:43), and in the same manner the same words of Jesus are ri-directed to each and everyone of us in our different situations, Jesus is saying to you: “come out! Come out of your tomb! Come out of your bondage!” From whatever that is keeping you in bondage, from whatever that is not allowing you to become who Jesus wants you to be. His words re-echoes: “Unbind him, let him go free” (Jn.11:44). May you be unbound, so that you will celebrate your freedom as God’s children. If Jesus can heal and resurrect a decomposing body, there is no situation, even the present pandemic (COVID 19) in the world, that He cannot change, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). The resurection of Lazarus above all, is a revelation of what happens presently, here and now, in the spiritual realm. In each and everyone of us there is a symbol of the new life of grace that conquers the death to sin. We are often times in the tomb of sin, and Jesus shouts at a loud voice: “come out”. At that point we feel free and alife once again. Through this episode, we are called to remove the stones at the tombs in which the man of today closed himself in: the tomb of immorality, of corruption, of injustice, of violence and of egoism. Therefore, in a sense, the resurrection of Lazarus is also our own resurrection, for Jesus calls us out of the tomb, to a new life that not even the corporal death can change.

          Similarly, in the second reading (Rm. 8:8-11) St. Paul expresses this in his concept of those “in the flesh” and those “in the spirit”. He talks about the works of the flesh as opposed to that of the spirit. He reintroduces the two levels of resurrection, that we talked about above. The first level has to do with resurrection from the dead, but here in reference to Christ. St. Paul advances his reflection in relation to Christians, thus, he maintained that Christians through Baptism have received the indwelling of the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead. And here we see the second level of the imports of resurrection: “Your spirits are alive because of righteousness.” The second level has to do with the restoration of the people of God to newness of life. And again, the first level of resurrection is equally expected of Christians: “he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies”. Man ordinarily is mortal, thus, subject to death, but Christ has broken the bonds of death by means of his resurrection. By means of his death we enjoy newness of life here on earth and hope for the future resurrection.

          A thorough attention to today’s Gospel reveals that Jesus repeated or used the same word he used in response to his disciples in the episode of the miracle of the man born blind, when they questioned him, whose fault is this man’s blindness? He replied “is for the revelation of God’s work in him” (Jn. 9:3). And in this episode too, Jesus said a similar thing. He told his disciples that the sickness/death of Lazarus is for the glory of God, so that through it the Son of man may be glorified (Jn. 11:4). My dear brothers and sisters, no matter what you may be passing through now, no matter the intensity and the density of your problems, I can hear the assuring words of Jesus saying “it is for the glory of God”, which means a miracle is about to take place or has already taken place in your life. Do not conjugate the verb of your hope in the past, nor conjugate the verb of your faith to a remote future. For Christ is with you (The Master is here), He will call you out of that situation as He did to Lazarus.

          Jesus is the Lord of life, little wonder he called back his friend Lazarus to life from the grave. And today we invoke Him to have pity on humanity assumed and redeemed by Him, and may He make us to pass from death to life especially in this perilous times. Indeed, what happened at the grave of Lazarus is a sign, it was the beginning of a miracle that Jesus continues to accomplish even today in the Church and in the world. He is also moved with compassion for me and for us. As the world is thrown of balance by the COVID 19 pandemic, everything is at a standstill, and the many false guarantees of science and technology are exposed, even markets and Churches are closed, the only thing that persists is our personal relationship with God and God alone suffices! In the midst all these, the Good News is that we have a Saviour, there is Jesus Christ in our midst. Indeed, the Master is here! He is before us and he continues to call us with a loud voice: Come out! Come out from your indifference, from your egoism, from your relativism and subjectivism, from secularism, from your greed and insatiable desires, from your trust in science and technology at the expense of faith in God, from your panic and desperation. His voice and words resound now more than ever: “come out of your trust in material things, come out of your worship of idols, come out of that sickness and disease, come out of the evil mechanizations of the agents of darkness, come out of that financial and spiritual insecurity, come out of that bondage the enemies have subjected you to”. However, he asks us as he asked Martha: “Do you believe…” (Jn. 11:26b). And here, Martha did her profession of faith “Yes I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the God the one who was to come into this world” (Jn. 11:27). Jesus himself assured Martha: “Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God” (Jn, 11:40). Let us believe in Him through a matured and convinced faith, so that this promise will be fulfilled in our lives, that is, the manifestation of God’s glory in Us. May His glory manifest in us, in every situation and in every circumstance of our existence. May He who raised Lazarus raise our fallen world and heal the world of this deadly virus! May His voice continue to resound: “You too Come out! Be free!” Amen! Do not panic for the Master is still here!!!

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)