5th Sunday of Lent Year A - 26/3/2023 - Gospel: John 11:1-45
Friendship
Friends do die, but not friendship; that is the spirit of today's Gospel. After receiving Lazarus' illness message from Martha and Mary, his friends, Jesus delayed for two more days. God acts at the time of his choosing. We can't dictate God's schedule. Jesus told his disciples,
'Our friend Lazarus is resting, and I am going to wake him'.
This confused the disciples because Jesus used not ordinary daily language, but a higher one. He then told them in plain words, 'Lazarus is dead', Jn 11,11. Today, the Church adopts Jesus' language, in praying for death; we say,
'May they sleep in Christ'.
Jesus and his disciples have a special relationship with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. They too, have a special bond with Jesus. It is demonstrated through Jesus' emotion. He wept and was in great distress. When the sisters encountered Jesus, the tone of their language revealed their deep love for Jesus. Martha met Jesus, and said to him,
'If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you' Jn 11,21, 33.
Martha firmly believed in unity, the unbreakable bond between Jesus and God the Father. Jesus told her,
'Your brother will rise again' Jn 11,24.
She believes that she won't see him now, but in the future, at the time of the resurrection. Jesus assured Martha that he is the resurrection,
'Whoever lives and believes in me will never die' Jn 11,26.
The resurrection is given to those who believe in Him. They will live now; because they are no longer under the power of sin and death. Jesus is both the resurrection; and the source of resurrection; the former happens after the crucifixion, and the latter is right here, now because it comes from the Father, 'The Father raises the dead and gives them life' Jn 5,20.
Jesus emphasises that those who believe in him share his resurrection right now, and in the time to come.
The sisters have never lost hope in Jesus. Martha informed Mary that, 'The Master is here'. She quickly ran to see him. She said exactly the word Martha had said earlier,
'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died'.
There is a wonder amongst the sympathisers about Jesus' unlimited power.
'He opened the eyes of the blind man, could he not have prevented this man's death? Jn 11, 38'.
Jesus' out-loud prayer confirms Martha's faith; and the unity between Jesus and the Father. It also confirms the unlimited power of God.
'By now he will smell; this is the fourth day' Jn 11,39.
Death is certain; human power is exhausted. There is nothing we can do. It is finished for us, but not for God. Jesus called Lazarus' name and the dead man came out. 'Unbound him', he said, 'Let him go free'; free from the power of death.
It is no coincidence that the two similar questions have the same answer. Jesus asked Mary 'Where have you put him?'. She replied, 'Lord, come and see'. Andrew, Peter's brother, asked Jesus, where do you live? Jesus replied 'come and see'. He came and saw and had life- Jn 1,38ff. Jesus comes and sees Lazarus' tomb and the sympathizers have faith. His prayers confirm this,
'...for the sake of all these who stand around me, so that may believe it was you who sent me' Jn 11,42.
Both Jesus and his disciples are fully aware of the danger of the trip to Judaea. Thomas protests saying,
'Let us go too, and die with him Jn 11,16'.
Death would not deter Jesus from visiting his friends. The disciples place their own safety before friendship; Jesus places his love for his friends, and ours, before his life. He knew his death was imminent, but it would not stop him giving glory to the Father. The chief priests and Pharisees plot to kill Jesus for fear of losing public support, and their popularity.
Giving life to his friend, Lazarus, Jesus chooses to die in his place. Being friends with Jesus means he shares our grief and we share his, and receive the gift of eternal life.
'Our friend Lazarus is resting, and I am going to wake him'.
This confused the disciples because Jesus used not ordinary daily language, but a higher one. He then told them in plain words, 'Lazarus is dead', Jn 11,11. Today, the Church adopts Jesus' language, in praying for death; we say,
'May they sleep in Christ'.
Jesus and his disciples have a special relationship with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. They too, have a special bond with Jesus. It is demonstrated through Jesus' emotion. He wept and was in great distress. When the sisters encountered Jesus, the tone of their language revealed their deep love for Jesus. Martha met Jesus, and said to him,
'If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you' Jn 11,21, 33.
Martha firmly believed in unity, the unbreakable bond between Jesus and God the Father. Jesus told her,
'Your brother will rise again' Jn 11,24.
She believes that she won't see him now, but in the future, at the time of the resurrection. Jesus assured Martha that he is the resurrection,
'Whoever lives and believes in me will never die' Jn 11,26.
The resurrection is given to those who believe in Him. They will live now; because they are no longer under the power of sin and death. Jesus is both the resurrection; and the source of resurrection; the former happens after the crucifixion, and the latter is right here, now because it comes from the Father, 'The Father raises the dead and gives them life' Jn 5,20.
Jesus emphasises that those who believe in him share his resurrection right now, and in the time to come.
The sisters have never lost hope in Jesus. Martha informed Mary that, 'The Master is here'. She quickly ran to see him. She said exactly the word Martha had said earlier,
'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died'.
There is a wonder amongst the sympathisers about Jesus' unlimited power.
'He opened the eyes of the blind man, could he not have prevented this man's death? Jn 11, 38'.
Jesus' out-loud prayer confirms Martha's faith; and the unity between Jesus and the Father. It also confirms the unlimited power of God.
'By now he will smell; this is the fourth day' Jn 11,39.
Death is certain; human power is exhausted. There is nothing we can do. It is finished for us, but not for God. Jesus called Lazarus' name and the dead man came out. 'Unbound him', he said, 'Let him go free'; free from the power of death.
It is no coincidence that the two similar questions have the same answer. Jesus asked Mary 'Where have you put him?'. She replied, 'Lord, come and see'. Andrew, Peter's brother, asked Jesus, where do you live? Jesus replied 'come and see'. He came and saw and had life- Jn 1,38ff. Jesus comes and sees Lazarus' tomb and the sympathizers have faith. His prayers confirm this,
'...for the sake of all these who stand around me, so that may believe it was you who sent me' Jn 11,42.
Both Jesus and his disciples are fully aware of the danger of the trip to Judaea. Thomas protests saying,
'Let us go too, and die with him Jn 11,16'.
Death would not deter Jesus from visiting his friends. The disciples place their own safety before friendship; Jesus places his love for his friends, and ours, before his life. He knew his death was imminent, but it would not stop him giving glory to the Father. The chief priests and Pharisees plot to kill Jesus for fear of losing public support, and their popularity.
Giving life to his friend, Lazarus, Jesus chooses to die in his place. Being friends with Jesus means he shares our grief and we share his, and receive the gift of eternal life.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
