Study and Meditations on this Sunday's Scripture Readings: April 10, 2011

[Fidelis]

A meditation on the Readings from “The Word Among Us” magazine:

Meditation: Romans 8:8-11
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The one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.* (Romans 8:11)

When Jesus receives word that his friend Lazarus is gravely ill, he declares, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God” (John 11:4). On the face of it, this isn’t true. Lazarus dies, then spends days in the tomb. It’s all the more amazing, then, when Jesus calls him forth to life!

Mary and Martha and their friends have gathered to grieve. When Jesus finally shows up, they reproach him for not coming as soon as they sent word. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21,32). But now it’s too late.

Or is it? “Even now,” Martha ventures, “I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you” (John 11:22). She doesn’t quite dare take literally Jesus’ promise that her brother will rise. She is content to know that Lazarus will participate in the final resurrection. After all, his body has been dead long enough to start decomposing. But Jesus dares to go further. He cries out to dead Lazarus, and the man comes out alive.

Death doesn’t have the last word! No matter how final defeat seems, the victory belongs to God’s Anointed.

What has the last word in my life? Is it discouragement over my sins? Is it the troubles that beset me? Which is stronger: the power of God’s Spirit in me or the pull of temptation that constantly tries to swamp the Spirit?

For example, what happens when I fall ill or feel anxious, angry, or harassed? I can blame God. I can feel sorry for myself. I can skimp on my prayer time. Surely God understands that I can’t set aside time to pray when I am so sick, so worried, so busy.

Or I can turn to the Lord, draw near to him, and let him give me his eternal, hopeful perspective.

“Jesus, I long to live by the power of your Spirit. Call me forth to life, and empower me to say yes to you.”

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. In the first reading, Ezekiel speaks of the days when the Lord will put his Spirit in each one of us. And we know that this has happened at our Baptism! What practical steps can you take this week to help you focus on and be more sensitive to the fact that the very Spirit of the Living God is present within you?

1. The responsorial psalm uses the metaphor of sentinels anxiously awaiting the light of dawn after a dark and lonely night of keeping watch, to represent our waiting on the Lord and putting our trust in him. How might you approach the Eucharist, or your times of prayer, with a deeper longing and trust in the Lord?

1. St. Paul in the second reading tells us that because the Spirit of God dwells in us, God promises that our mortal bodies will be raised from the dead too! Death will have no hold over us. As you dwell on this truth, what thoughts or sentiments does it bring to your mind?

1. In the Gospel, we read that Jesus’ appearance in Bethany was a cause of worry because people were seeking his life. The response of Thomas was to follow Christ even at the risk of personal harm. Could you describe your relationship with the Lord in the same way? Why or why not?

1. In the Gospel, and in the mediation, we also see there is often a temptation to blame God. For example, “when I fall ill or feel anxious, angry, or harassed.” This could also occur when we believe God did not come in time, or for not healing, or for not meeting our demands. Can you share a time you saw God glorified in a situation even when it did not go according to your expectations? Can you share a time when you were tempted to point a finger of accusation against God?

1. In the meditation, the following questions are asked: “What has the last word in my life? Is it discouragement over my sins? Is it the troubles that beset me? Which is stronger: the power of God’s Spirit in me or the pull of temptation that constantly tries to swamp the Spirit?” How would you answer these questions?

1. Take some time now to pray that you will receive the grace to live each day by the power of the Holy Spirit and not by your fallen human nature. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point. What can you do right now, and in the remaining weeks of Lent, to help make this happen?

 

[Crumpy]

That meditation by Msgr Pope. You saved the best wine for last.

 

[Fidelis]

Lazarus’ resuscitation compared to Jesus’ Resurrection, On the Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Lent
The New Theological Movement blog

5th Sunday of Lent, John 11:1-45

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.

In order that his disciples might not despair at his death but instead might have hope in his Resurrection, our Savior manifested his divine power and authority in raising Lazarus with the simple words, Lazarus, come forth. Surely, he who not only healed the blind man and worked many other miracles, but who also raised Lazarus from the dead, surely he would also rise from the dead himself!

Historically, the raising of Lazarus from the dead marked a significant turning point in Jesus’ ministry and earthly sojourn. Coming up to Bethany, which is near Jerusalem, Christ exposed himself to the Jewish authorities who wished to put him to death. What is more, as these wicked men had already desired to murder the Christ, now their rage was transferred over to the disciples of Jesus as well – for this reason St. Thomas the Apostle said, Let us also go [to Bethany], that we may die with him. Finally, it is significant to note that it was this marvelous sign of the raising of Lazarus which led the Pharisees and the priests to take council together. Then, Caiaphas prophesied in the Spirit that Jesus should die for the nation. And not only for the nation, but to gather together in one the children of God, that were dispersed (John 11:51-52).

While Lazarus’ resuscitation was essential different from the Resurrection of the Christ, it was nevertheless given as a sign and witness of hope. Thus, a comparison of these two events – the raising of Lazarus and the Resurrection of Jesus – will help us to understand how this miracle gives witness to the greatest Miracle. Moreover, we will come to something of an understanding of certain aspects of the Resurrection itself.

Difference of time

We note the significant difference in the time of the resuscitation of Lazarus from Jesus’ Resurrection. While Lazarus was raised on the fourth day after his death, the Savior rose on the third day. And this is fitting, if we consider the significance of the numbers three and four. Indeed, four signifies the things of earth and of men: There are said to be four corners to the earth, there are four cardinal virtues, and the number forty implies earthly perfection. Three, on the other hand, points to the things of heaven and of God: There are three Persons in the Most Holy Trinity and three theological virtues.

For this reason, Christ raised Lazarus on the fourth day, since it was a natural and earthly life to which the dead man was restored. This was not a resurrection, but a resuscitation: Since Lazarus would die again and did not yet enjoy the glorification of his body or soul. The Savior, however, rose on the third day, since it was to a supernatural and heavenly existence that he was restored. His rising from the dead is a true Resurrection to glory. Moreover, it should have given his disciples greater hope when they saw their Savior die – if Christ had raised Lazarus after four days, surely hope remained until the third day after his own death.
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Difference of place**

There is also a significant difference in place. Although both Lazarus and Christ rose from a tomb, the tomb from which Lazarus was raised was open at the moment of his resuscitation. Now it was a cave; and a stone was laid over it. Jesus saith: Take away the stone. …] They took therefore the stone away (John 11:39,41).

Concluded on the next post…

 

[Fidelis]

In the case of the Resurrection of the Lord, however, the tomb was closed when he rose from the dead. We have already discussed this point, which is not often recognized, in a previous article. Here, it will suffice simply to mention the Gospel accounts in brief. When the women came to the tomb on Eastern morning, they saw the tomb closed. But then an earthquake occurred and an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it (Matthew 28:2). Looking within, the women saw that the Savior had already been raised. Hence, it is clear that the Lord was raised when the tomb was still closed. This, then, is the greatest proof of his Resurrection – since, if the tomb had already been open, it may have been thought that robbers took the body; but, if the tomb was closed at the time Christ rose and came forth (by walking through the wall of the tomb, as he walked through the walls of the upper-room), it was clear that the body had not been stolen, but that Jesus had indeed been raised and glorified.

Although both Lazarus and the Lord had been laid in tombs, Lazarus was resuscitated to an earthly existence and could not exit the tomb without having the bolder first rolled back. Christ, on the other hand, rose to glory and, through the power of his divinity working in and upon his glorified body, he miraculously exited the tomb by walking through the wall at some time during the night. And this brings us to another difference.

Difference of witnesses

Many witnessed the resuscitation of Lazarus: His sisters Martha and Mary, the Jews who had come, the Apostles and other disciples of Jesus, and of course Jesus himself. Of the Resurrection of the Christ, however, there was no witness. For this reason the Church sings in her Easter Exultet: O truly blessed night, which alone merited to know the time and the hour in which Christ rose from the dead!

Many saw Lazarus come forth from the tomb, resuscitated. None, however, were privileged to behold the Lord rise from the tomb, glorified. And this is fitting, since the resuscitation of Lazarus – while a great miracle – is not entirely beyond the powers of human comprehension. The Resurrection of the Savior, however, fully exceeds all human understanding – not that we cannot come to a true belief and knowledge of the fact of the Resurrection, but the mystery of the Resurrection itself is far above the reason of men and angels. As none beheld the eternal generation of the Son from the Father, so too none merited to see the raising of the Christ. This same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus, as in the second psalm also is written: Thou are my Son, this day have I begotten thee (Acts of the Apostles 13:33).

There are, of course, many more differences besides these which we have mentioned: Lazarus’ body was decaying, while Christ’s was preserved from corruption; Lazarus rose by the power of another (Jesus), while the Lord rose by his own power as God; Lazarus remained bound in his burial garments (including the napkin upon his face), but Christ’s garments were freed from him and the napkin was folded and set aside; etc., etc. We, however, must now turn to an essential similarity – the similarity which allows us to make these comparisons.

The similarity of matter

All the many differences notwithstanding, there is an important point of similarity between the resuscitation of Lazarus and the Resurrection of the Savior: In both cases, the bodily substance which had been dead is the matter which was raised. The body of Lazarus which had been separated from his soul and was laid dead in the tomb, this very body was raised by Christ to a second earthly life. Likewise, the body of Jesus which had been separated from his soul in death and had rested in the tomb for three days, this very body was raised to glory. As there are not two bodies of Lazarus, neither are there two bodies of Christ.

This is a point which must be stressed, since today there is some tendency to think of Christ’s Resurrection in non-physical and non-material terms. Some people will speak and write as though the material body of Christ simply disappeared and ceased to exist, being replaced by a spiritual body. This cannot be the case, for we know that, even after the Resurrection, the Savior was able to eat and drink, and also that the disciples could touch and see him. We must necessarily hold as a matter of faith (expressed in the clearest of terms in the Sacred Scriptures) that the material body of the Lord was raised from the dead immortal, but not immaterial! Even now, after the Ascension, the body of our Lord is glorified and in heaven, but it is not immaterial. Indeed, if the “body” became “immaterial,” it would no longer be a “body” but would instead by a “soul.”

Lazarus’ resuscitation helps to illustrate this point most clearly. Although none witnessed the bodily Resurrection of Christ, many saw Lazarus’ flesh raised from the dead. All could see that his very same body was restored to him. None doubted that, after his resuscitation, Lazarus was still physical and material. In this respect, there is a great point of similarity between the resuscitation of Lazarus and the Resurrection of Christ.

 

[Fidelis]

That meditation by Msgr Pope. You saved the best wine for last.

He never disappoints.