Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 256
Lectionary: 256
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I will take the children of Israel from among the nations
to which they have come,
and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.
I will make them one nation upon the land,
in the mountains of Israel,
and there shall be one prince for them all.
Never again shall they be two nations,
and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.
No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols,
their abominations, and all their transgressions.
I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy,
and cleanse them so that they may be my people
and I may be their God.
My servant David shall be prince over them,
and there shall be one shepherd for them all;
they shall live by my statutes and carefully observe my decrees.
They shall live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob,
the land where their fathers lived;
they shall live on it forever,
they, and their children, and their children's children,
with my servant David their prince forever.
I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the LORD,
who make Israel holy,
when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
I will take the children of Israel from among the nations
to which they have come,
and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.
I will make them one nation upon the land,
in the mountains of Israel,
and there shall be one prince for them all.
Never again shall they be two nations,
and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.
No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols,
their abominations, and all their transgressions.
I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy,
and cleanse them so that they may be my people
and I may be their God.
My servant David shall be prince over them,
and there shall be one shepherd for them all;
they shall live by my statutes and carefully observe my decrees.
They shall live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob,
the land where their fathers lived;
they shall live on it forever,
they, and their children, and their children's children,
with my servant David their prince forever.
I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the LORD,
who make Israel holy,
when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
Responsorial
PsalmJEREMIAH 31:10,
11-12ABCD, 13
R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his
flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
R. The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
R. The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
Verse Before
The GospelEZ 18:31
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
GospelJN 11:45-56
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what Jesus had done.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees
convened the Sanhedrin and said,
"What are we going to do?
This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation."
But one of them, Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year, said to them,
"You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people,
so that the whole nation may not perish."
He did not say this on his own,
but since he was high priest for that year,
he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation,
but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.
So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews,
but he left for the region near the desert,
to a town called Ephraim,
and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near,
and many went up from the country to Jerusalem
before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another
as they were in the temple area, "What do you think?
That he will not come to the feast?"
and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what Jesus had done.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees
convened the Sanhedrin and said,
"What are we going to do?
This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation."
But one of them, Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year, said to them,
"You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people,
so that the whole nation may not perish."
He did not say this on his own,
but since he was high priest for that year,
he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation,
but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.
So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews,
but he left for the region near the desert,
to a town called Ephraim,
and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near,
and many went up from the country to Jerusalem
before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another
as they were in the temple area, "What do you think?
That he will not come to the feast?"
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Martin I, please
go here.
Meditation: They
took counsel how to put him to death
Do
you allow fear or opposition to hold you back from doing God's will? Jesus set
his face like flint toward Jerusalem, knowing full well what awaited him there
(Luke 9:51; Isaiah 50:7). It was Jewish belief that when the high priest asked
for God's counsel for the nation, God spoke through him. What dramatic irony
that Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus must die for the nation. The prophet
Ezekiel announced that God would establish one people, one land, one prince,
and one sanctuary forever.
Jesus
suffered for us sinners the punishment we deserved for our sins
Luke adds to Caiphas's prophecy that Jesus would gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. Jesus came to lay down his life for the many, but not in a foolish reckless manner so as to throw it away before his work was done. He retired until the time had come when nothing would stop his coming to Jerusalem to fulfill his Father's mission.
Luke adds to Caiphas's prophecy that Jesus would gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. Jesus came to lay down his life for the many, but not in a foolish reckless manner so as to throw it away before his work was done. He retired until the time had come when nothing would stop his coming to Jerusalem to fulfill his Father's mission.
St.
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) wrote:
"The
passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the hope of glory and a lesson
in patience... He loved us so much that, sinless himself, he suffered for us
sinners the punishment we deserved for our sins. How then can he fail to give
us the reward we deserve for our righteousness, for he is the source of
righteousness? How can he, whose promises are true, fail to reward the saints
when he bore the punishment of sinners, though without sin himself? Brethren,
let us then fearlessly acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was
crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but
in glory."
The
way to glory and victory for us is through the cross of Jesus Christ. Are you
ready to take up your cross and follow Christ in his way of victory?
"Lord
Jesus, may we your disciples be ever ready to lay down our lives in conformity
to your will, to willingly suffer and die for you, that we may also share in
your victory and glory."
A
Daily Quote for Lent: The
crucifixion is always lived, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The
crucifixion is something that must continue throughout our life, not for forty
days only, although Moses, Elijah, and Christ fasted forty days. We are meant
to learn from them not to cling to this present world or imitate what it says,
but to nail our unregenerate selves to the cross." (excerpt
from Sermon 205,1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, JOHN 11:45-56
Lenten Weekday
(Ezekiel 37:21-28; Psalm: Jeremiah 31)
Lenten Weekday
(Ezekiel 37:21-28; Psalm: Jeremiah 31)
KEY VERSE: "It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish" (v.50).
TO KNOW: When Jesus raised Lazarus to from the dead (Jn 11:44), many came to believe in him. Others informed the Sanhedrin ("Great Assembly") about Jesus' deed. This religious council was composed of the elders, the priests (mostly Sadducees) and the Scribes (mostly Pharisees). They feared that if Jesus was allowed to continue his teachings, the people would acclaim him to be the Messiah. If that happened, the wrath of the Roman Empire would be brought down upon them; therefore, a plot was contrived to kill Jesus. Without realizing the importance of his words, Caiaphas, the high priest at the time (18-36 CE), said that it would be better for one man to die in order to preserve the entire nation. It is ironic that the gift of life offered to Lazarus would lead to Jesus' own death, which offered salvation to the whole world.
TO LOVE: Do I give myself for the sake of others?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to trust my life to God's plan.
Optional Memorial of Saint Martin I, pope and martyr
Martin became Pope on July 5, 649 when there was great turmoil in the Church over the Monothelite heresy. Pope Martin convened a council of 105 bishops which condemned the heresy. The Emperor Constans responded by sending General Olympius to take the Pope in bonds to Constantinople. Olympius did not dare to touch the Pope himself, so he sent one of his men into the church with a sword to kill Martin. As the soldier entered the church, he was instantly blinded. The Emperor then sent General Theodore to do the job, under the pretense that Martin was in league with the godless Saracens and did not reverence the Mother of God. When he read the charges to the Pope, Martin refuted them as preposterous. Nevertheless, Theodore bound him and took him to Constantinople. The Pope was imprisoned there and ill-treated. Two years later, in 655, he died.
NOTE: The Monothelite heresy is the view that Jesus Christ has two natures but only one will. This is contrary to the Christology that Jesus Christ has two wills (human and divine) corresponding to his two natures. Formulated in 638, the heresy enjoyed considerable popularity, even garnering patriarchal support, before being rejected and denounced as heretical in 681 at the Third Council of Constantinople.
Saturday 13 April 2019
ST MARTIN.
Ezekiel 37:21-28. Jeremiah 31:10-13. John 11:45-56.
The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his flock –
Jeremiah 31:10-13.
‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.’
As we read this, we think to ourselves: ‘Believe him, of
course!’ But this is hindsight. Would we have been any different if we had been
there? If we are honest, we may envisage ourselves as not wishing to upset the
status quo, to stand out from the crowd. Wanting to be like all the rest we may
have followed the chief priest in seeking to avoid upsetting the Romans.
But you, Lord, had your sights set on building your Father’s
kingdom. Although you knew that you were walking into danger in Jerusalem you
did what you had to do. We can imagine that your disciples were fearful. How
did you encourage them to walk ahead with faith and trust, knowing something of
what was to come?
Lord, help me to be conscious of your presence in my day to day
living as we walk the road to Easter together.
Saint Martin I
Saint of the Day for April 13
(d. September 16, 655)
 |
| Statua di S. Martino Papa nel tempio di Santa Maria della Consolazione, Roma | photo by Daniel Aldrighetti |
Saint Martin I’s Story
When Martin I became pope in 649, Constantinople was the capital
of the Byzantine empire and the patriarch of Constantinople was the most
influential Church leader in the eastern Christian world. The struggles that
existed within the Church at that time were magnified by the close cooperation
of emperor and patriarch.
A teaching, strongly supported in the East, held that Christ had
no human will. Twice, emperors had officially favored this position: Heraclius
by publishing a formula of faith, and Constans II by silencing the issue of one
or two wills in Christ.
Shortly after assuming the office of the papacy—which he did
without first being confirmed by the emperor—Martin held a council at the
Lateran in which the imperial documents were censured, and in which the
patriarch of Constantinople and two of his predecessors were condemned. In
response, Constans II first tried to turn bishops and people against the pope.
Failing in this and in an attempt to kill the pope, the emperor
sent troops to Rome to seize Martin and to bring him back to Constantinople.
Already in poor health, Martin offered no resistance, returned with Calliopas,
the exarch of Constantinople, and was then submitted to various imprisonments,
tortures, and hardships. Although condemned to death and with some of the
imposed torture already carried out, Martin was saved from execution by the
pleas of a repentant Paul, patriarch of Constantinople, who was himself gravely
ill.
Tortures and cruel treatment having taken their toll, Martin
died shortly thereafter. He is the last of the early popes to be venerated as a
martyr.
Reflection
The real significance of the word martyr comes
not from the dying but from the witnessing, which the word means in its
derivation. People who are willing to give up everything, their most precious
possessions, their very lives, put a supreme value on the cause or belief for
which they sacrifice. Martyrdom, dying for the faith, is an incidental extreme
to which some have had to go to manifest their belief in Christ. A living
faith, a life that exemplifies Christ’s teaching throughout, and that in spite
of difficulties, is required of all Christians. Martin refused to cut corners
as a way of easing his lot, to make some accommodations with the civil rulers.
Lectio Divina: John 11:45-56
Lectio Divina
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Season of Lent
1) Opening prayer
Lord God, creator and Father of all,
Your sons and daughters
are still scattered and divided: Christians and non-Christians,
various Churches and sects
claiming exclusive rights on Your Son,
and each of them full of factions.
Make us dream again the dream
which You alone can make possible:
that we can all be one
if we believe and follow Him
who died to unite all that is scattered,
Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever.
Your sons and daughters
are still scattered and divided: Christians and non-Christians,
various Churches and sects
claiming exclusive rights on Your Son,
and each of them full of factions.
Make us dream again the dream
which You alone can make possible:
that we can all be one
if we believe and follow Him
who died to unite all that is scattered,
Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever.
2) Gospel reading – John 11:45-56
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had
done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told
them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the
Sanhedrin and said, "What are we going to do? This man is performing many
signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing, nor do you
consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the
people, so that the whole nation may not perish." He did not say this on
his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus
was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to
gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned
to kill him. So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he
left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he
remained with his disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many
went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area,
"What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today gives the last part of the long episode of
the resurrection of Lazarus in Bethany, in the house of Martha and Mary (Jn 11:1-56).
The resurrection of Lazarus is the seventh sign (miracle) of Jesus in John’s
Gospel and is also the high and decisive point of the revelation which He made
of God and of himself.
• The small community of Bethany, where Jesus liked to go, mirrors the situation and the life-style of the small community of the Beloved Disciple at the end of the first century in Asia Minor. Bethany means “The House of the Poor”. They were poor communities and a poor people. Martha means "Lady” (coordinator): a woman coordinated the community. Lazarus means “God helps”. The community which was poor expected everything from God. Mary means “loved by Yahweh: she was the beloved disciple, image of the community. The episode of the resurrection of Lazarus communicated this certainty: Jesus is the source of life for the community of the poor. Jesus is the source of life for all those who believe in Him.
• John 11:45-46: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among the people. After the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44), there is the description of the repercussion of this sign among the people. The people were divided; “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what He did, believed in Him”. But some of them went to the Pharisees to tell them what Jesus had done.
The latter denounced Him. In order to be able to understand this reaction of one part of the population it is necessary to become aware that half of the population of Jerusalem depended completely on the Temple so as to be able to live and to survive. Because of this, it would have been difficult for them to support an unknown prophet from Galilee who criticized the Temple and the authority. This also explains why some even were ready to inform the authority.
• John 11:47-53: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among those in authority. The news of the resurrection of Lazarus increased the popularity of Jesus. This is why the religious leaders convoked a council meeting, the Sanhedrin, the maximum authority, to discern getting rid of Him; because “this man works many signs. If we let Him go on this way everybody will believe in Him and the Romans will come and suppress the Holy Place and our nation”. They were afraid of the Romans, because in the past it had been shown many times, by the Roman invasions in the year 64 before Christ until the time of Jesus, that the Romans repressed with great violence any attempt of popular rebellion. (Cf. Ac 5:35-37). In the case of Jesus, the Roman reaction could have lead to the loss of everything, even of the Temple and of the privileged position of the priests. Because of this, Caiaphas, the High Priest, decides: “It is better that one man should die for the people, rather than that the whole nation should perish”. And the Evangelist comments: “He did not speak this in His own person, but as high priest of that year, he was prophesying that Jesus was to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather together into one the scattered children of God”. Thus, beginning at that moment, because the chief priests were concerned Jesus’ authority was growing, and being motivated by the fear of the Romans, they decided to kill Jesus.
• John 11:54-56: The repercussion of the seventh sign in the life of Jesus. The final result is that Jesus had to live apart. “So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews; He left the district and went to a region near the desert, to a city called Ephraim and stayed there with His disciples”. The Jewish Passover was drawing near. At this time of the year, the population of Jerusalem tripled because of the great number of pilgrims. The conversation was all around Jesus: "What do you think, will He come to the festival or not?” In the same way, at the time that the Gospel was written at the end of the first century, the time of the persecution of the Emperor Domitian (from 81 to 96), the Christian communities who lived in the service of others were obliged to live clandestinely.
• A key to understand the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus was sick. His sisters Martha and Mary sent someone to call Jesus: “The one whom you love is sick!” (Jn 11:3. 5). Jesus responds to the request and explains to the disciples: “This sickness will not end in death, but it is for God’s glory so that through it the Son of God may be glorified” (Jn 11:4) In John’s Gospel, the glorification of Jesus comes through His death (Jn 12:23; 17:1). One of the causes of His condemnation to death was the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:50; 12:10). Many Jews were in the house of Martha and Mary to console them because of the loss of their brother. The Jews, representatives of the Ancient Covenant, only know how to console. They do not give new life.... Jesus is the one who brings new life! Thus, on one side, the threat of death against Jesus! On the other, Jesus who overcomes death! In this context of conflict between life and death the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus takes place. Martha says that she believes in the resurrection. The Pharisees and the majority of the people say that they believe in the Resurrection (Ac 23:6-10; Mk 12:18). They believed, but they did not reveal it. It was only faith in the resurrection at the end of time and not in the present resurrection in history, here and now. This ancient faith did not renew life. It is not enough to believe in the resurrection which will come at the end of time, but it is necessary to believe in the Resurrection already present here and now in the person of Jesus and in those who believe in Jesus. On these people, death no longer has any power, because Jesus “is the resurrection and the life”. Even without seeing the concrete sign of the resurrection of Lazarus, Martha confesses her faith: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27).
Jesus orders that the stone be removed. Martha reacts: "Lord, by now He will smell! This is the fourth day since He died!” (Jn 11:39). Once again Jesus presents the challenge asking to believe in the resurrection, here and now, as a sign of the glory of God: "Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40). They removed the stone. Before the open tomb and before the unbelief of the persons, Jesus addresses himself to the Father. In His prayer, first of all, He gives thanks: “Father, I thank you for hearing My prayer. I myself know that you hear me always!” (Jn 11:41-42). Jesus knows the Father and trusts Him. But now He asks for a sign because of the multitude which is around Him, so that the people can believe that He, Jesus, has been sent by the Father. Then He cried out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus came out (Jn 11:43-44). This is the triumph of life over death, of faith over unbelief. A farmer once commented: "It is up to us to remove the stone. And it is up to God to resurrect the community. There are people who do not know how to remove the stone, and because of this their community has no life!”
• The small community of Bethany, where Jesus liked to go, mirrors the situation and the life-style of the small community of the Beloved Disciple at the end of the first century in Asia Minor. Bethany means “The House of the Poor”. They were poor communities and a poor people. Martha means "Lady” (coordinator): a woman coordinated the community. Lazarus means “God helps”. The community which was poor expected everything from God. Mary means “loved by Yahweh: she was the beloved disciple, image of the community. The episode of the resurrection of Lazarus communicated this certainty: Jesus is the source of life for the community of the poor. Jesus is the source of life for all those who believe in Him.
• John 11:45-46: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among the people. After the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44), there is the description of the repercussion of this sign among the people. The people were divided; “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what He did, believed in Him”. But some of them went to the Pharisees to tell them what Jesus had done.
The latter denounced Him. In order to be able to understand this reaction of one part of the population it is necessary to become aware that half of the population of Jerusalem depended completely on the Temple so as to be able to live and to survive. Because of this, it would have been difficult for them to support an unknown prophet from Galilee who criticized the Temple and the authority. This also explains why some even were ready to inform the authority.
• John 11:47-53: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among those in authority. The news of the resurrection of Lazarus increased the popularity of Jesus. This is why the religious leaders convoked a council meeting, the Sanhedrin, the maximum authority, to discern getting rid of Him; because “this man works many signs. If we let Him go on this way everybody will believe in Him and the Romans will come and suppress the Holy Place and our nation”. They were afraid of the Romans, because in the past it had been shown many times, by the Roman invasions in the year 64 before Christ until the time of Jesus, that the Romans repressed with great violence any attempt of popular rebellion. (Cf. Ac 5:35-37). In the case of Jesus, the Roman reaction could have lead to the loss of everything, even of the Temple and of the privileged position of the priests. Because of this, Caiaphas, the High Priest, decides: “It is better that one man should die for the people, rather than that the whole nation should perish”. And the Evangelist comments: “He did not speak this in His own person, but as high priest of that year, he was prophesying that Jesus was to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather together into one the scattered children of God”. Thus, beginning at that moment, because the chief priests were concerned Jesus’ authority was growing, and being motivated by the fear of the Romans, they decided to kill Jesus.
• John 11:54-56: The repercussion of the seventh sign in the life of Jesus. The final result is that Jesus had to live apart. “So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews; He left the district and went to a region near the desert, to a city called Ephraim and stayed there with His disciples”. The Jewish Passover was drawing near. At this time of the year, the population of Jerusalem tripled because of the great number of pilgrims. The conversation was all around Jesus: "What do you think, will He come to the festival or not?” In the same way, at the time that the Gospel was written at the end of the first century, the time of the persecution of the Emperor Domitian (from 81 to 96), the Christian communities who lived in the service of others were obliged to live clandestinely.
• A key to understand the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus was sick. His sisters Martha and Mary sent someone to call Jesus: “The one whom you love is sick!” (Jn 11:3. 5). Jesus responds to the request and explains to the disciples: “This sickness will not end in death, but it is for God’s glory so that through it the Son of God may be glorified” (Jn 11:4) In John’s Gospel, the glorification of Jesus comes through His death (Jn 12:23; 17:1). One of the causes of His condemnation to death was the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:50; 12:10). Many Jews were in the house of Martha and Mary to console them because of the loss of their brother. The Jews, representatives of the Ancient Covenant, only know how to console. They do not give new life.... Jesus is the one who brings new life! Thus, on one side, the threat of death against Jesus! On the other, Jesus who overcomes death! In this context of conflict between life and death the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus takes place. Martha says that she believes in the resurrection. The Pharisees and the majority of the people say that they believe in the Resurrection (Ac 23:6-10; Mk 12:18). They believed, but they did not reveal it. It was only faith in the resurrection at the end of time and not in the present resurrection in history, here and now. This ancient faith did not renew life. It is not enough to believe in the resurrection which will come at the end of time, but it is necessary to believe in the Resurrection already present here and now in the person of Jesus and in those who believe in Jesus. On these people, death no longer has any power, because Jesus “is the resurrection and the life”. Even without seeing the concrete sign of the resurrection of Lazarus, Martha confesses her faith: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27).
Jesus orders that the stone be removed. Martha reacts: "Lord, by now He will smell! This is the fourth day since He died!” (Jn 11:39). Once again Jesus presents the challenge asking to believe in the resurrection, here and now, as a sign of the glory of God: "Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40). They removed the stone. Before the open tomb and before the unbelief of the persons, Jesus addresses himself to the Father. In His prayer, first of all, He gives thanks: “Father, I thank you for hearing My prayer. I myself know that you hear me always!” (Jn 11:41-42). Jesus knows the Father and trusts Him. But now He asks for a sign because of the multitude which is around Him, so that the people can believe that He, Jesus, has been sent by the Father. Then He cried out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus came out (Jn 11:43-44). This is the triumph of life over death, of faith over unbelief. A farmer once commented: "It is up to us to remove the stone. And it is up to God to resurrect the community. There are people who do not know how to remove the stone, and because of this their community has no life!”
4) Personal questions
• What does it mean for me to believe in the resurrection?
• Have I ever “sacrificed” someone rather than protect them in order to preserve the status quo?
• Have I ever “sacrificed” someone rather than protect them in order to preserve the status quo?
5) Concluding prayer
For You are my hope, Lord, my trust, Yahweh, since my youth.
On You I have relied since my birth,
since my mother's womb You have been my portion,
the constant theme of my praise. (Ps 71:5-6)
On You I have relied since my birth,
since my mother's womb You have been my portion,
the constant theme of my praise. (Ps 71:5-6)
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