by Fr Raymond Raj
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Psalm 129
Romans 8:8-11
John 11:3-7,17,20-27,33-45
Theme: Christ the Resurrection and Life
Brothers and sisters in the blessed Lord, Christian faith is hinged on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our Christian faith is hinged on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Speaking of resurrection, resurrection is not just another Easter hope. No! Resurrection is a day-to-day hope for you and for me. Therefore, my dear friends, resurrection is the central theme of being a Christian.
Speaking of life, speaking of death, a little story I want to share with you.
By the way, I just want to ask you one question. Do you all know why human being, why you and me, human being, was given 80 years of lifespan? Exceptional for Fr FA. Why you and me generally we are given a lifespan of 80 years? And why animals are given a shorter lifespan? Any clue?
The secret is this. But you have to do some calculation as I tell this story.
On the 1st day of creation, God created cow. On the 1st day of creation, God created cow. God said to the cow:
“You must work at the field, under the sun, and produce milk to support human being. I will give you a lifespan of 50 years.”
God said to the cow, “I will give you a lifespan of 50 years.”
The cow replied, “That is a tough life. 50 years working under the sun! Let me have 20 years. I will return to you the 30 years.”
So the cow gave the balance 30 years back to God. And God agreed to this deal. So the cow’s lifespan was fixed for 20 years.
On the 2nd day of creation, God created the dog. God said:
“Your job is to sit all day long by the house door and bark at anyone who comes in and walk past. I will give you a lifespan of 40 years.”
The dog said, “That is too long for barking. 40 years! That is too long. Give me 20 enough. I will give you back the other 20 years.”
God said, “Okay, fine. Agreed to this deal. So, dog, your lifespan is 20 years.”
On the 3rd day of creation, God created the monkey. God said:
“Your job is to entertain people, do tricks, do magic and make people laugh. I will give you a lifespan of 20 years.”
The monkey responded, “20 years of tricks? I disagree. Just give me 10 enough. The other 10 I return back to you.”
Finally, on the last day, God created man. And God said to man:
“Eat, sleep, play, enjoy. Eat, sleep, play, enjoy, do nothing. I will give you a lifespan of 20 years.”
Man responded, “No way! 20 years is not enough for me to enjoy my life.”
So man proposed to God, “God, I tell you what. I will take the 20 years that you have given me, I will take the 30 years the cow gave to you, the 20 years the dog returned to you and finally the 10 years monkey gave back to you. That makes it 80 years. Do you agree, God?”
God said, “Since you ask for it, 80 years then the lifespan of human being.”
Brothers and sisters, don’t go around and tell the 1st day God created cow. I will be excommunicated the next morning. It is just a joke.
So brothers and sisters in the Lord, today’s Gospel highlight is the raising of Lazarus. Just for your information, the raising of Lazarus was the last miracle performed by Jesus.
The first miracle performed by Jesus was the wedding at Cana.
The last miracle performed by Jesus before His passion was the raising of Lazarus. The raising of Lazarus sets the stage for Jesus’ own death and resurrection.
So brothers and sisters in the Lord, if Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus can also raise you and me to new life provided you and I are willing. In the New Testament, it is a known fact that Mary, Martha and Lazarus and Jesus had a special chemistry. And I assume this special chemistry was the secret for this miracle to take place.
So dear friends in the Lord, to be alive simply means to be in union with God and the whole creation. To die simply means to be separated from God and His creation.
Therefore, my dear friends, in this Season of Lent, let us ask ourselves this fundamental question:
Am I alive? As a Christian, am I alive?
As I said earlier, to be alive simply means to be in communion with the Living God. When a person lives under the shadow of sin, he is dead. When a person lives under the ambit of sin, he or she is dead. It is impossible to be union with God.
Of course you and I can continue to lie ourselves by saying “Father, I attend Mass regularly. I am active in the parish ministry. I do a lot of charity, Father. I fast a lot and etc.“
But the fact remains. Sin separates us from God. Because for the God we worship, He is the Living God, the God of Righteousness, the God of Truth.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says:
I am the Resurrection and Life. If anyone believes in me, he will live and never die.
Yes, brothers and sisters, Jesus calls us to experience this new life with Him. And this new life with Jesus can only begin with repentance. No two ways about it. New life with Jesus will only begin with repentance.
So in this Holy Sacred Mass, let us pray for the grace to repent in order to experience this new life with Jesus.
And I leave you with a beautiful verse to ponder over the week:
True repentance is personal, painful and permanent.
Amen.
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