The death of Lazarus points to the trust we must have in our heavenly Father

Fifth Sunday of Lent. Apr. 10, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: John 11:1-45 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
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Full homily text: There is one sure thing in life for all of us and it is that we will die. We all must face death and it is a reality of life on earth. Human beings of all times and cultures have had to struggle with the reality of death. The most haunting aspect of death is the unknown. From the first moments of our birth, all we know is this life. Waking up each day. Living and interacting with others. Going through the struggles of each day facing the limitations of ourselves and the world. Life is not perfectly blissful, but it is all that we know. We learn to love this life of limitations, just because it is comfortable and we know it. But, then inevitably the unknown breaks into our lives. DEATH seizes one of our loved ones, taking them into the unknown. People tell that is it better. That they are in a better place, a place without limitations. But we only know THIS PLACE! This place is limited, but it is better than the unknown.

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This experience of death is part of our human experience. To grapple with the reality of death is something that we all must do. Jesus, the incarnate Lord who took upon himself our sinful human nature, also experienced all the pain and confusion of death. How do we know this? Well, he lived in our world. Tradition has it that Jesus stood next to St Joseph as he passed on into the unknown. And in today’s Gospel, He is told of the death of His friend, Lazarus. Jesus tries to hold it all together. He knows that the Father has a plan in this and that it “is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Yet, as he approaches the tomb and sees Mary weeping he, too is overcome with emotion. Scriptures tell us that “Jesus wept,” He did not just cry, but he was overcome with emotion.

In his human nature, Jesus feels the loss

How human is that? Jesus can’t hold it together any longer. Jesus knows that Lazarus and this situation are in the Father’s hands, yet in His human nature He feels the loss of this person whom he loved. The experience of emotion and tears is normal. It is healthy to mourn the loss of a person in this life. Yet, Jesus shows us that we are not to be held in bondage by death. Although He is overcome with emotion, Jesus steps out in faith. In the light of faith there is no unknown to Jesus. The Father hears His prayer. Lazarus’ life is not lost into the unknown. Lazarus is known by the Father. He is held in the hands of God. At the prayer of Jesus, the Father gives back the breath of life to Lazarus.

We see so much in this Gospel passage about how we as Catholics must deal with the reality of death. First, is normal for us to experience emotions and tears at the death of a loved one. These are a normal part of the mourning process and Jesus himself experienced them. Second, we are not to be tortured by death.  The idea of death should not haunt us or disturb our peace. Death is not a total unknown to us. By faith, we are given eyes to see beyond death. Martha and Mary show us a proper response to death in the Gospel today.  They both say to Jesus “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Martha and Mary’s faith reaches beyond the unknown. They KNOW that Jesus is the Lord and that he has dominion over life and death.

Dying in the state of Grace

We too, when we experience death do not need to be overcome. We attend the funeral of our loved one. We pray for the repose of their soul. We weep and mourn, but our faith gives us knowledge that the person is in the hands of the Father. To the Father nothing is unknown. He holds all things in being. Those who die in Christ Jesus will experience life after death. Death is a result of Original Sin. Jesus made atonement for our sins in his passion, death, and resurrection. At Baptism, we die with Him and rise to new life with Him. Those who remain in a state of Grace without serious sin have nothing to fear from death. Death is not unknown to them. “Life has changed and not ended.” They who experience death with Christ will rise with Him into eternal life. Lazarus’s death points to the reality of Christ’s power over death and the unknown.

The life of faith opens the believer up to a new reality. We strive to see with the eyes of faith that death is not the end but only the beginning. This life of limitations is our pilgrimage, it is not the end. We don’t have knowledge of everything, but we do know that God loves us and His Son came to bring us true life. This life is stronger than death and leads to union with the Trinity. There we hope to be in union with God knowing as we are known.