5th Sunday of Lent, April 6, 2014
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
We can all remember being a child and having to go shopping with our mothers. I also had two older sisters so these trips were “double the fun” for me as the only boy. Often on these extended shopping sprees, I would occupy myself by playing under the clothes racks. On one occasion, I wandered off a little farther than in the past and found myself totally lost.
I called out for my mother and searched, but she was not anywhere to be found. Of course, as a young child this was a devastating feeling. Not having the experience of the world, I presumed that I was lost forever. Obviously, it wasn’t long until my mother found me and my peace was restored.
Fear can be a debilitating thing. As a child this fear is magnified by our inexperience and naiveté. However, this temptation to despair is within all of us. Feelings of being abandoned to a harsh world can overcome us all. We come into the world safe in our mothers’ wombs. Most of us, if we are blessed, find safety and security in our families. Then we must begin our journey out into the world. We can have a great deal of confidence in ourselves, but no one can face the sufferings and difficulties of life alone. At some point, we will be face to face with the reality of our own limitations and/or mortality. Often this comes when we are faced with death.
Jesus Wept
In today’s Gospel, Martha, Mary and even Jesus are faced with loss. It is amazing to see Jesus so overcome that He is “perturbed and deeply troubled”. He weeps over the death of His friend, Lazarus. Yes, we can try to fill our lives with money or with possessions to bring security. Or, we can try to control every aspect of our lives, but eventually all of us are faced with our powerlessness.
This is a critical moment for us in our lives; we can either turn to God or fall into despair and become embittered. It is in this time that we must grow in the virtue of Hope. This supernatural virtue is given by the Holy Spirit, but must be embraced by the individual. Hope enables us to trust God will our Eternal happiness and gives us the means of obtaining it. This virtue gives us a firm belief in God’s plan to give us Eternal life. The Lord will provide all that we need in this present life if we wish to respond to it.
Jesus himself is faced with this critical moment at the death of his friend Lazarus. He does not become dejected when faced with suffering and death. Nor does Martha and Mary despair, instead they place their hope firmly in Jesus as the “Son of God”. A firm relationship with the Lord can bring peace and security even when we are faced with a hopeless situation. We do not have to feel like a lost child with nowhere to turn. We have Jesus, always present, who knows our next breath and cares immensely for us.
What About the Sacraments?
Those who have hope in Jesus are never lost. Having a sincere relationship with our Savior will naturally lead us to union with Him in heaven. There are many aides to this relationship on this earth. The greatest are the Sacraments especially the Eucharist and frequent confession. Another firm guide is devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She, who is the dispenser of all God’s graces, will surely bring us her maternal peace and security in all our troubles. All of these aides lead to a greater growth in the virtue of Hope.
We may have times of fear. We may weep at times, like the Lord. But, we will be secure in Jesus love which is never-failing. Those who are close to the Lord will receive His help and peace of mind in our present journey. And, one day our hope will be realized in heaven where we will be united with the Trinity forever.