Homily for 5 Lent A, April 10, 2011

My sisters and brothers, the resurrection takes place both in our world and inside each of us.

The lesson we had from Ezekiel, the valley of the Dry Bones is a powerful symbol of renewal and restoration. It may well be the source of the Jewish belief in the resurrection at the end of time. It is likely that Ezekiel was among those deported when the Babylonians first took Jerusalem, in 598 BC. He opposed a political solution to Judah’s woes, espousing instead the notion of Israel as a community faithful to God in religious observance. This story involves both one of the prophet’s visions and an interpretation. Namely, that faithful Israel will be resurrected.

In our lesson from Romans, we have Paul’s classic duality of Spirit (things of God) vs. Flesh (things of the earth). The Christian is able to live a life for God, in the Spirit. Christian life is bound up in the Spirit, and not by the desires of the flesh. Now he explains the difference between what he calls living in the Spirit and living according to the flesh: two very different mind-set. A person whose mind “is set on the flesh,” whose view is limited to the natural world, is at enmity with God because he is fundamentally unable to obey God's law – he lacks the power to transcend his inner conflicts, and. On the other hand, Christians are in the Spirit. Spirit of God dwelling in them, fills and motivates our Christian lifestyle.

Today’s gospel story, of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, is a dramatic representation of Jesus’ divine power. He, like God, has power even over death itself. In way, the story sets the stage for the resurrection story of Jesus himself. As the story begins, Jesus and his disciples are at a safe distance from Jerusalem, out of reach of the authorities that are out to get them. Thomas, shows great courage in his readiness to travel back to the Jerusalem area and risk his life with Jesus.

In that day, people thought that one’s soul hovered around one’s body for three days, but when Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for “four days;” making his miracle all the more powerful. I love the gentle way Martha rebukes Jesus for his tardiness wile showing her confidence in his ability to heal. She goes further: perhaps because the Father grants the Son whatever he asks, Jesus will restore life to Lazarus. She, as many did, believed in “the resurrection [of all] on the last day” (v. 24), but this is small comfort to her now. Jesus identifies himself as he who raises believers from death. Yet, even Jesus becomes distraught and his humanity shows in his tears. Causing some to say that he weeps at the loss of a friend (having compassion for Jesus), but others criticize him for his tardiest. They are about to be amazed and overwhelmed at Jesus’ compassion and power.

All of this gives us a view of the end of our Lenten journey, a reminder of our Easter celebration which is just a couple weeks away. As we make our way toward Easter, we have some choices to make about how we get to Easter. We can choose not to focus on the things of the world that distract us from our relationship with Christ. We can choose to resist spite, envy greed, etc. We can deny those things that satisfy a sense of artificial power based on material things. Or we choose to allow God to restore and renew us by filling us again with the risen Spirit of Christ. Let us pray for this gift!