Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (3/9/2008)

Dear People of Holy Name,

If Jesus knew Lazarus was dying and going to die, why didn’t he go and heal him so that Martha and Mary wouldn’t have to experience such deep grief? This incongruity leads me to think that the original story of Jesus, raising Lazarus from the dead, has been embellished to emphasize with drama, the great and wonderful power of Jesus over life and death.

A key moment in the narrative is when Martha declares her faith in Jesus as the resurrection and the life. She states, “I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Here the emphasis is again, faith in Jesus as the Lord of life, who overcomes death.

The Gospel foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and confirms our faith in Jesus as the source of our resurrection as well. As he raised Lazarus from the dead, so Christ will raise us up to eternal life when our earthly life comes to an end.

More important than Jesus’ power to raise Lazarus from the dead is his power to raise us up to eternal life. Lazarus will die again, but with great confidence in Jesus’ love, which will raise him to eternal life. This story prepares us to embrace Jesus as the Lord of life and the God of the resurrection, who will raise us up to new and eternal life.

To witness a dramatic rising from the dead would certainly make faith a lot easier, at least for a while. But later we would find ourselves in the same position as the disciples after Jesus’ death. It took them time to come to know Jesus as risen. For us too, coming to believe in Jesus as the resurrection and the life takes time. With the gift of faith, we come to know the reality of life after death, and experience a real connection with the “other side.” As we grow older and experience death and lose those we love, we begin to see death differently.

Some may have a gift to truly communicate with the dead and others may be clairvoyant, but the same comes to those of faith. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as risen from the dead, we know in him all things are one and that in Christ we are all connected. In prayer we become one with Christ and those with him, and can intercede for each other to continue to grow in the grace of God. So we pray that God will untie us and all people from the darkness of disbelief, and grant us the grace to know that he is here and that he is alive and active in our souls.

We pray to be able to articulate Martha’s faith with confidence, “Yes Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Such faith overcomes death and darkness and brings us into the full and bright light of Easter. May the Lord bless us with such great faith!

In Christ's Peace, Fr. Leo