Thoughts from the Second Floor Front V Sunday in Lent March 17, 2024
The readings this weekend are all about restoration. Ezekiel gives his famous prophecy concerning the restoration of the nation of Israel. His comparison to a resurrected body speaks of Israel’s state when he offered this prophecy. The Lord restores Lazarus to life in this the seventh and most dramatic and demanding of signs that He performed in John's gospel. The issue is restoration. The first step in that wonderful process is admitting or recognizing that one is in need of restoration. That an individual comes to recognize his or her own need to be restored, healed and forgiven. In our culture, marked by autonomy, self-sufficiency and at times an overwhelming sense of the power of the individual, our Church calls us to realize that we all need to hear what Jesus shouted at Lazarus. Come out. Come out of the darkness of sin and stand in the light of forgiveness. Come out of the self-absorption that can isolate and lead one to think only of oneself. Come out of the fear, live as a disciple of Christ and be willing to give witness to the life that gives faith.
It was St. Irenaeus of Lyon who said: “The Glory of God is man fully alive.” (Pardon the politically incorrect pronoun, however he did live in the 2nd century.) The call to discipleship is a call to live fully. The call is challenging to hear and is at times even more of a challenge to respond to in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. It calls for a frank and clear understanding of who we are as a believer, as a father, mother, son or daughter, friend and disciple. Lent affords us that opportunity to respond to the call of Christ.
Few of us will be able to live our lives in a manner marked by participation in let alone directing dramatic and history changing events. I am a big believer in the holiness of the ordinary, what St. Thérèse called the Little Way. Those little things you can do around the house for those with whom you live. The things that you can do for people you will never meet through contributions to Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services via the Annual Rice Bowl collection or the annual meal packing event we hold in our parish and the food you bring to the food drives we regularly have within our parish. Remember the opportunity to do good does not knock on your door. It knocks on your teeth.
In telling the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead at certain points the evangelist tells us that Jesus becomes perturbed. In John 11:33 we read that he became perturbed and deeply troubled…In the original language it is a startling phrase, literally, “He snorted in spirit…” Perhaps Jesus is growling in anger at the presence of evil, Lazarus’ death. Or perhaps He is expressing anger at the lack of faith exhibited by the crowd. He knows that He is on a time line which is drawing Him to Jerusalem for the ultimate showdown between Him and evil.
Lazarus was restored to life. The entire earth is being restored through the arrival of spring. In just a little while we will celebrate the Easter Triduum; the culmination of our Lenten observances. In these closing days of this season of Grace take hold of the opportunity to live that invitation we received at the beginning of Lent: Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. Be present at the three-day celebration of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Be restored in the love of Christ.