After we
reflected on the light of God, which enables us to see, in the Scripture
readings on last Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent, a.k.a. Laetare Sunday)(1
Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41), now we have come to
the 5th Sunday (Lazarus Sunday) on our Lenten pilgrimage journey through the spiritual
wilderness! There are 6 Sundays in Lent, with Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)
being the 6th Sunday. Out of the 6 Lenten Sundays, we are now on the 5th. It
means that we are getting ready to wrap up our Lenten journey, coming closer to
our three-fold destination: the Cenacle (Upper Room), the Cross, and the Tomb.
The Cenacle, where Jesus hosted the Last Supper, washed the disciples’ feet,
and he also gave his farewell discourse, recorded in John 14-17. The Cross,
where Jesus offered up himself for our salvation. The Tomb, from which Jesus
rose from the dead.
As our Lenten journey comes
nearer to its end on Maundy Thursday in Holy Week, followed by Paschal Triduum
and the Resurrection Sunday, the Scripture Readings on this Sunday(5th Sunday
of Lent, cycle A) (Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-1; John 11:1-45) are all about the
Holy Spirit and resurrection. But it is not
Christ's Resurrection. Rather, it is actually about our eschatological
resurrection that Jesus has promised (Cf John 6:39) and that Paul described in
detail in connection to Christ's Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:12-58.
According to today’s
Gospel reading (John 7:1-45), Jesus’ friend in Bethany, Lazarus, died. It was
also when Jesus' own death was nearing, as the fullness of time for him to die
on the Cross was fast-approaching, reflecting this time in the Liturgical
Calendar, nearing to Holy Week. Lazarus’
sisters, Martha and Mary, were not happy about the delay in Jesus' visit, as
Lazarus had been in his tomb for already 4 days, when Jesus finally came.
Why Jesus
did not come early enough to save Lazarus' lives he as he did for a royal
official's son in Cana (known as the second sign of Jesus, out of the seven
signs of Jesus in John's Gospel, read on Last Tuesday, John 4:43-54)?
It is to
help us understand that the signs of Jesus are not just about turning water
into wine (1st sign: John 2:1-11) and healing the sick (2nd sign: John 4:43-54)
but even bringing the dead back to life (7th sign: John 7:1-45)!
And it is by
God's salvific power in Jesus! It is, in essence, the Holy Spirit!
The Second
Reading (Romans 8:8-11), Paul explains that this power of God in Christ,
demonstrated in raising Lazarus from the dead in the Gospel reading, is the
same power that raised Christ from the dead, and it is, indeed, the Holy
Spirit!! Paul also reminds us that the Holy Spirit needs to dwell in us, as
indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a mark of our discipleship - a proof that we belong
to Christ. This truth is also addressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19 (we, as
temples of the Holy Spirit), as well as in 1 Corinthians 3:16 (we, temples of
God, the Holy Spirit).
Hold on to
this truth about the Holy Spirit of our being in today's Second Reading until the
evening of the Resurrection Sunday, when the risen Christ said to his
fear-stricken disciples in the Upper Room: Receive
the Holy Spirit (John 20:22) and until we read from Acts 2 on Pentecost,
when the disciples were infused with the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit of God that
delivered the disciples from fear on the evening of the Resurrection Sunday,transforms
us into the Apostolic Church and send us to all the ends of the earth with the
power and gifts to expand the Church , as fishers of people!
Yes, the
bottom line is the Holy Spirit!! And the First reading (Ezekiel 37:12-14) also
echoes this truth about the Holy Spirit! The v 14 also reminds how God gave
life to Adam, the first man in Genesis 2:7. It was the life-giving of breath of
God that gave life to a dirt mold into God's own image, and that breath of God
is the same Holy Sprit to bring dry bones in the valley of tears back to life
in Ezekiel's vision.
Yes, as long
as we do not cut ourselves from him, keeping us as temples of the Holy Spirit, it
is the Holy Spirit that keeps us alive and will raise us from the dead upon
Christ's return ( cf. Revelation 20:4-6) , Jesus raised Lazarus and as Jesus
was raised from the dead, as dry bones are brought back to life! Amen!
Reflection:
Where in your life do you see “dry bones”? What have
contributed to the emergence of the dry bones” in you? What can you do to let
the Holy Spirit turn the “dry bones” in you back to the fullness of life?
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