TODAY'S READINGS:
EZEKIEL 37: 21 - 28
JEREMIAH 31
JOHN 11: 45 - 56
Today, when we step
into this powerful scene in the Gospel of St John we find ourselves faced with
a
In this
dramatic passage, we stand shoulder to shoulder with many other people
in the hot, dusty burial grounds. We have just witnessed Jesus awakening
Lazarus from death.
The crowd around us
had been stunned into awed silence but now, eyes wide with shock, they turn to
look into the eyes of equally speechless
friends. Tongues are loosening. And slowly, in hushed voices, words expressing
division begin to be heard. Fears begin to
surface and people were divided: some believed in Him with their whole being,
some began to denounce Him. How
could anyone denounce someone for raising a man from death to life? What could
be the source of the growing fear within?
We have to understand that many of that number depended completely on the
Temple power and on its leaders to be able to live in
financial security, for their families to be accepted and to be part of their
community. They were aware that this unknown
"Prophet" from Galilee was a threat to the Temple and to the
Pharisees so their fear-filled hearts, even having witnessed this death to life
event, were divided. They erred on the side of caution and security, and ran to
report Jesus to the Temple authorities.
To accept Jesus as
Lord can often bring division into our fear-filled hearts. On Sundays we
acknowledge Him as Lord and God but on Monday and the
rest of the week, do we trust Him to resolve our daily fears? Does He really
know my fear? Lordship over death doesn't stop Jesus
from feeling deep compassion for our sorrows and fears. "Christ's
Heart is Human-Divine, the God of loving, maternal tenderness
made flesh" (Pope Benedict XVI)
When temptations press
in on us, can we hear Him tell us, "Your weakness is My might. Your safety
lies in letting Me fight for you".
When we are very
scared of financial demands, when it's hard to meet debts, can we hear Him say,
"I am your purse-bearer. Draw from Me, depend on Me. My
supplies are limitless. I am the world's CFO. Let Me prove my
promises".
When we are overcome
by sorrow, can we hear Him say, "I am the Man of sorrows. Let me teach you
some of my most treasured lessons which I share only
with my close friends. Let me help you wield the weapon of the power of a
prayer pressed from grief".
Can we allow the One
Who overcomes death to awaken us from the death of daily fear into God's new
life or will our souls divided by our fears ?
"Yes, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of
God, he who is coming into the world” (11:27). Yes, O Lord! We also believe, notwithstanding our doubts and darkness; we believe in
you because you have the words of eternal life. We want to believe in you, who give us a trustworthy hope of life
beyond life, of authentic and full life in your kingdom of light and peace" (Pope Benedict XVI)
And you?
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