From Death into Life

Last updated on: March 25, 2016 at 5:43 pm by Father Pablo Migone

From Death into Life 2016-03-25T17:43:47-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

As Jesus approached Bethany, Martha went out to meet him with sad news, his friend Lazarus was dead. Martha was upset, almost blaming Jesus for the death of Lazarus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus gently calms Martha with words of hope and continues on to Bethany. He goes to the tomb, weeps and is perturbed. He asks for the stone to be rolled away and after a brief prayer all he does is give a command, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus’ life is restored and there is plenty to celebrate.

What price did Jesus pay to raise Lazarus from the dead? It cost him his life. The words of Jesus that raised Lazarus from the dead were brief, yet these words were powerful. Immediately after raising Lazarus, Caiaphas along with the other priests of the Sanhedrin began to plan Jesus’ execution. Saint John could not be any clearer when he wrote in his Gospel, “so from that day on they planned to kill him.” The raising of Lazarus is an example of Jesus putting into practice his own words, “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

The price of Lazarus’ life was the death of Jesus.

The price of every human life is the death of Jesus.

Caiaphas himself foreshadowed the transformative power of Jesus’ death for all humanity when he said to the other priests, “it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” Caiaphas was speaking of the risk of revolt in Jerusalem, yet his words resound now as a prophecy of the salvific effects of the death of Jesus. Through his death we no longer perish, but become heirs to eternal life. Because we die in a death like his in baptism, we too will rise with him and share in the glory of the resurrection.

Every year there is the option to read the passage of Lazarus the Sunday before Palm Sunday for the celebration of the scrutinies. The liturgy of the Church, by placing the raising of Lazarus in this particular place in the liturgical calendar emphasizes the relationship between the raising of Lazarus and the death of Christ. This weekend we hear how the life of one man comes at the price of the death of another man, while next week on Palm Sunday we commemorate that the death of one man brings life to all of humanity.

Jesus asked Martha is she believed that he is the resurrection and the life and that whoever believes in him, even if he dies, will live and never die. Martha’s response is a beautiful affirmation of faith, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” Martha’s response is our response as we approach Holy Week, the sacred week when we stand in awe at the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the mystery through which we receive eternal life.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 4, 2014

De la muerte a la vida

Next Post

April 11, 2014 Immigration in the Catholic Cafeteria

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many disciples did Jesus call as His closest followers?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Seven Ten Twelve Twenty