These times we live in are remarkable. None of us have ever experienced anything like it in our lifetimes. There is a lot of fear in the world right now. Most countries of the world are experiencing this tragedy of pandemic, sickness and death. And isolation and fear. We are all being tested.
I hope you saw Pope Francis’ Holy Hour and the Blessing “Urbi et Orbi” yesterday. It was a remarkable message of Hope, Faith and Unity, watched by millions around the world.
Are you afraid? Today, in the Gospel we are all challenged. Jesus told Martha,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
And he said to her,
Do you believe this?”
This is the question we should be asking ourselves.
This question will help us to overcome our fear and dread. This is why Jesus told us,
Do not be afraid.
Ezekiel prophesied,
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them, ….
St. Paul wrote,
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit dwelling in you.
And to prove that he had the power of God, the power to give life, Jesus raised people from the dead. He raised from death the son of the “Widow of Nain”, … and the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue official.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus raised his friend, Lazarus from the dead.
“Our friend Lazarus is asleep,
but I am going to awaken him.”
When they arrived back in Bethany, Lazarus’ sister, Martha, confronts Jesus, perhaps a little disappointed with him, saying to him that if he had been there, Lazarus would not have died. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Jesus responded to Martha,
“Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this? If you believe this, do not be afraid.
In another place in the Gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples,
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
And,
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.
And,
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
Do you believe this? That is Jesus’ question to each of us. Whoever believes this does not need to fear the coronavirus. If you have this Faith and this Hope in eternal life you need not fear death.
Do not be afraid. Do not lose your Hope. Trust in God.
Care for one another. Comfort one another. Pray for one another.
Pray with this HOPE as you witness the events of our time. Jesus is giving us Eternal Life.
Do you believe this? Do not be afraid.