Father Rick Bolte's Homily

A: Fifth Sunday of Lent

Martha wonders the obvious question, “Why didn’t Jesus come in time to heal Lazarus before he died?”  This is not only the logical question for Martha to ask but it also reflects the questions for some in John’s community.  When this Gospel is written, some time has passed since Jesus’ death and resurrection.  These early Christians are experiencing the pain of death and wondering why.  Remember that life expectancy is just 40 years and over half die before reaching adulthood.  The Gospel of John is written about 70 years after Jesus’ resurrection.  Martha represents those members of John’s community who are wondering why Jesus isn’t there to save their loved ones who are dying.

We sometimes ask similar questions.  Life doesn’t seem fair.  We see good people, people we love, die or experience great difficulty in their lives.  We wonder why God doesn’t fix it.  If God were here wouldn’t he heal them?

Last week we heard Jesus explain that the man born blind was not blinded because of his sin or that of his parents.  Jesus said, “it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”  This week we hear Jesus say of Lazarus’ illness that it was not to end in death but rather it “is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  Is God made visible and glorified through our pain and suffering?

The answer is “No” and “Yes.”  Certainly it is not a masochistic infliction of pain and death that reveals God’s presence.  But it is in the overcoming of pain and death.  Jesus’ signs or miracles are not goals in themselves trying to keep everyone healthy and never to die.  Rather they merely point to a deeper reality.  Jesus’ raising of Lazarus points to Jesus’ own resurrection.  The signs and miracles demonstrate that pain and death have no power over us.  We do not have to live in fear of these as if they could diminish or destroy our existence.

We are invited by Jesus’ miracles to recognize the power of God which transcends all the cares of this world.  From God’s perspective, the world is a place where we can learn and choose the life he offers us.  His presence in the world was to demonstrate the power of God’s love to render pain and suffering of no ultimate consequence.  If we are seeking a pain free life or one without death, we are seeking an earthly god.  This god does not exist.  As much as we avoid pain and death we also know that these are the things that challenge us to grow and to reflect more deeply on our lives.  If we see this world as God does and choose his life and love in all circumstances, we have chosen his kingdom and so have his life within us.