GOD'S GLORY AND MERCY IN OUR RESURRECTION - 03/26/23 (Fifth Sunday of Lent)

John 11:1-4

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, 

the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.

So the sisters sent word to him saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032623.cfm

Blessed Passiontide Sunday! We knew that Jesus healed many people from their illnesses in the gospel. However, it was different with Lazarus. Lazarus loved our Lord, but even when Jesus knew that he was sick, our Lord did not heal him. Rather, Lazarus died, and his death broke the heart of Mary Magdalene, Martha, and Jesus. Some of us may wonder why our Lord did not do anything at that time. Even the people mentioned in the Scriptures were surprised. But, the life of Lazarus did not end there. When Lazarus was dead for four days, Jesus Christ came, spoke to the Father, and Lazarus rose from the dead. The resurrection of Lazarus reflects at least two things about God, His glory and His mercy. Sometimes, when someone is suffering, others complain to God as to why He's allowing it and why He doesn't perform a miracle. Sufferings and death are realities in the world that we need to accept. However, we may forget to trust in God and to recognize that earthly life is not the end. There is everlasting life in heaven where there will no longer be suffering, and there is also the glorious resurrection of the dead. God's glory is manifested more, not by allowing us to "cheat" death and sufferings, but to be victorious against them when we unite our sufferings with Christ and be united with Him in our resurrection. 

The resurrection of Lazarus also reveals to us that its due to God's mercy that we have the hope of the glorious resurrection at the end of the age. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, suffering and death entered into the world, and it became impossible for us to  enter heaven if we will trust in our own strength. It's only because of God's merciful love that we have the hope of everlasting happiness. Jesus loved Lazarus and all of us that when our Savior saw the death of Lazarus, He wept. Jesus wept and cried because suffering and death were not part of His plan for us. And, because of His love for us, He accepted suffering and death on the Cross for us to experience the resurrection from the dead due to His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. To accept God's mercy and gift of salvation, we should persevere in serving Christ like Lazarus. We should stay away from sins, temptation and from worldly satisfactions which take away the devotion into our hearts and endanger our own salvation. And, let's receive the sacraments, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist. It is in the Mass where we receive the glorified and resurrected Body of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus will inspire us by His love and guide us by His example so that we may be like Him, both in our sufferings and in our resurrection. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Fasting and Abstinence during Lent:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56337/fasting-and-abstinence-during-lent

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth