If only – – –
After 911, there were many stories of people that began “If only…” One such story was a man who was late because the baby sitter was late. He said if only she had been on time I would have been in my office in the World Trade Center.
In less grave situations we all find ourselves saying m “If only …” if only I hadn’t spent so much money at the fair, I would have money to pay my bills. If only I could lose some weight I could wear the clothes in my closet. If only… If only…
In today’s Gospel, Martha and Mary both greet Jesus with an “If only” statement. Lord, if only you had been here…” They were thinking of the immediate situation – Jesus has proved over and over that He has the power to heal. Their brother Lazarus is ill and dying. Why didn’t Jesus, their dear friend come and heal their brother? Why did Jesus wait two days before going to Bethany?
More is a stake than Lazarus recovering his health. If Jesus had chosen to go to Bethany when first called, He could have healed Lazarus. But this would have been a very different sign. The raising of Lazarus is the sign of a new revelation that death is not final. Life is.
The raising of Lazarus has more to do with Jesus, us, and believing than it has to do with Lazarus. Two deaths are very evident in the Gospel – Lazarus’, very clearly “Lazarus has died”; but also Jesus’ impending death. Thomas has an inkling of this when he tells the other disciples after Jesus’ decision to go to Bethany, which is near Jerusalem: “Let us go to die with Him.” Thomas’ presumption, however, is that death is a final end.
Jesus works an even greater miracle than healing Lazarus. By raising him from the dead he gives a clear sign that He has the power over death and life. This raising of Lazarus is a new kind of statement about life. Jesus’ sign in this miracle is the power of the Holy Spirit brining life out of death. The new life He brings is risen and eternal.
We also hear this in today’s second reading when Paul promises the Romans “through the Spirit dwelling in them, their “mortal bodies” would receive eternal life.
Do you believe this sign? Do you live like you believe it? Are we willing, like Jesus, to stake our lives on it!
Our belief is less than perfect, but with like Mary and Martha our belief is strengthen by encounters with Jesus. His presence means new life.
One way we encounter Jesus is at Mass when we take time out of our busy life to make ourselves present to receive the Word and the Blessed Sacrament, His Body and Blood. Other prayer times during the day and week when we consciously strive to encounter Jesus.
Less evident encounters are when we meet him through faith strengthening and hope giving occasions with others. When our discouragement is lessen by a kind remark or our sinfulness is forgiven and a welcome, we encounter Jesus in the other person and are brought to new life.
Today’s Gospel also shows Jesus not as some distant spiritual icon, but as someone we can relate to. We see him weeping at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. And it is beautiful to behold.
We tend to forget that Jesus was human. We tend to forget that Jesus had feelings like us. We tend to forget that he felt tired, hungry, and thirsty.
Why is it so important that we notice the tears flowing down His cheeks at the tomb? It’s because this is a dimension of Jesus that we can all identify with.
Because Jesus had feelings, because he got tired, hungry and thirsty, he knows exactly how we feel at times.
This is all-important if we are to be able to relate to Him!
Today’s Gospel not only shows us a Jesus who inspires us by His humanity, but also a Jesus who transforms us by His divinity.
We not only see him weep at the tomb of Lazarus, we also see Him raise Lazarus to life.
A Jesus who can touch our lives in a way that no other person can do. Because Jesus is the Son of Man, He can inspire us. And because He is the Son of God, He can do infinitely more. He can transform us beyond our wildest dreams.
As the Son of Man, He was like us in all things but sin. He understands what it is like to be human. He understands what it is like to be tempted and rejected, and hurt.
Secondly, these stories tell he is not only the Son of Man, but also the Son of God. He can do for us what no other person on earth could ever do. He can raise us to new life and transform us, as He did Lazarus.
This is the “Good News” contained in today’s readings. It is the “Good News” that Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.
It is the “Good News” that if we open our hearts to Jesus, He will show us life, as we’ve never seen it before.
This is the great mystery that we celebrate in this liturgy.