Today, Fr. Patrick Sun celebrated the Rite of Scrutiny at 11 a.m. mass for those waiting to be baptized this Easter Eve. Therefore, the readings were taken from Year A, the story of raising Lazarus in John 11.
Fr. Patrick began with the liver cross-transplant which took place last January in Queen Mary Hospital. The sacrifice on the part of the liver donors gives a new lease of life to the recipients. This is the meaning behind Jesus' Passion. God loves us and does not want to see us perish. Therefore, He sent His Son Jesus to give us life. This mission takes its toll on the life of Jesus. To save our lives, Jesus must die. It sounds rather cruel, but life has never been cozy. Now that these catechumens have entered their final stage of preparation, it is appropriate for them to pray and meditate on the words of Jesus.
Martha had informed Jesus that her brother Lazarus had been very ill. However, Jesus tarried for a while before he turned to Bethany where they lived. When he arrived, Lazarus was dead and had been buried for four days already. Martha complained to Jesus.
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." (John 11:21-22)
Once more, we are ignorant of God's plan. We try our best to do whatever we can. Time and again, we want God to solve our problems in our way. Naturally, God frustrates us most of the time. Unlike other religions in which people can manipulate their gods, the Christian God is seldom swayed by prayers or offerings.
Martha demonstrated her strong faith in Jesus. He was her last hope. Martha was faintly aware that with Jesus around, anything could be accomplished. She begged Jesus and she was not disappointed.
Then followed a series of exchanges between Jesus and Martha.
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." (John 11:23-27)
Resurrection at the last day was the conventional knowledge of the Jews. There was no reason for Martha to leap beyond this frame of mind. Yet, Jesus wants to teach us that resurrection is not just some vagueness in the remotest future. Resurrection is here and now and he is the resurrection and the life, the eternal life.
We are, without exception, sick. We want to be whole and well. However, the sins within us prevent us to do the good we want to do and make us do the bad we want to avoid. We are exhausted and do not want to put up resistance any more. Just when we wanted to surrender, Jesus came. He offers us a new beginning, a new reconciled life with God. The catechumens are preparing for their new life through baptism in keen expectation. Fr. Patrick encouraged us, those who have been leading this new and reconciled life, to join these catechumens to prepare for the Paschal mystery this Easter.
Jesus would do his part. He would cry with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." (John 11:43)
We should do our parts, respond to his call. Of course, we need other people to help us remove the rock that blocked the tomb, the bandages that bound our hands and feet. We must work together to build up this new life in God. So, call us, O God.
My God, Awake us from our slumber. Chase away the death that rots us. Grant us a new lease of life, an enriching relation with our fellow men. Amen.
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