“Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves.”So we hear in today’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel. But what was just metaphorical then – God 'resurrecting’ Israel, giving the nation a new beginning, bringing it back from exile – becomes literal reality in today’s gospel when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Of course, this is only a sign of a greater and truer resurrection which will occur soon after: Jesus raising himself from the dead, rising from the grave by his own power.
There is so much one can could say about this episode but today we could focus on Christ’s total control of the situation in contrast with the powerlessness of everyone else. From the very start, as is so common in John’s gospel, Jesus has everything under control and knows exactly what he is doing. So when he is told of Lazarus’ sickness, precisely because of his love for Lazarus, Martha and Mary, “he stayed two days longer in the place where he was”He declares his intention to go to Judea and is completely unfazed when his disciples respond: “Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”. He then “told them plainly: ‘Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’”.
When he arrives at Bethany, people are moving about confusedly and weeping. He makes clear to Martha that he has the power to raise Lazarus because he is “the resurrection and the life”. He who is himself life can give it to others.
When at the tomb Martha’s faith wavers - Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days”-, Our Lord insists: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”And then at his word Lazarus comes out alive.
But why did Jesus himself weep? Why this apparent display of weakness in one who is so conscious of his own power? Because true power is not heartless. God became man to have a human heart and share human feelings, and we humans cannot fail to be troubled in the face of death. Perhaps also Lazarus’ death and resurrection made him think of his own forthcoming paschal mystery.
The Church gives us this gospel today, in Lent, to encourage us. Our God, who has power to raise the dead, also weeps. He who is almighty knows and, to some extent, in Christ Jesus, shares our weakness. We might be dead in our sins, we might be rotting in some bad habit or bound by the stinking bandages of some vice, but Christ can call us to come out from our tomb. There is no human frailty Jesus cannot overcome, including death, and there is no human frailty which Jesus, with his human heart, does not feel compassion for.
Homily on the readings for Sunday V of Lent (A)
The priest Luis Herrera Campo offers its nanomiliaA short one-minute reflection for these Sunday readings.
