Saint Callistus

1st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14 
2nd Reading: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel: John 11:1-45

​In today's Gospel, Jesus raised up Lazarus from the dead and declared: "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." The Resurrection may not solve our worldly problems but the reality and the promise of the Resurrection will give us the strength and the hope to solve whatever problems.

 The meaning and value of the Resurrection are best illustrated by that story of a young boy crossing a wobbly hanging bridge. What gives him courage to go on is the sight of Jesus at the other end of the bridge, holding the ropes and waiting for him.

 Note that in this story, the Lord does not do the walking for the boy. All of us will have to walk our walk in our journey, but the assurance has been given to us by Jesus that He will be with us in our journey in order to bring us to our final destination where He Himself sits at the throne at the right hand of the Father.

 The death of Lazarus indeed reminds us too of our own death which is inevitable. As Jesus paid his last respects to Lazarus, how many people do you think will come to pay their last respects when we die?

How many people will care at all? The goodness we have shown will come back to us in life, and in death. Beyond popularity and power, love will be the main factor for the presence of people in our, death, wake and burial. To continue the questions, Will people weep for you and I when we are gone? Are we worth weeping for? Or, are people weeping now because of you and I, meaning, we are the one causing them so much pain and disappointment? Are you and I the tear-jerker, a jerk that tears the hearts and lives of our loved ones?

As we approach Holy Week may we be filled with the spirit of true conversion and expectant hope. It is never too late to change, and it is never too early to love.

Prayer: Lord, be with me as I move on, and help me make it to heaven someday. Amen

Fr. Dante