Fifth Week of Lent Reflection
Sr. Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick, OSB
John 11:1-45
Death stirs up many emotions. Martha and Mary experience some after their brother Lazarus’ death – grief, confusion, disappointment and maybe even a little anger at Jesus.
These emotions are natural, and we experience them not only for physical death, as with Lazarus, but also other forms of death – loss of beliefs and assumptions for which we cling, a breakdown in a relationship with another, societal deaths of violence and exploitation. We all experience death in many ways throughout our lives.
But we also can feel a calmness and inner peace that comes with acceptance. I read this definition for acceptance recently: to acknowledge reality without judgment. Fr. Jim gave us an example last Saturday when he shared the story about the man who had just been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. As soon as Fr. Jim entered his room, the man turned to him and said, “You know, I must die before I can live.” This is acceptance – acknowledging the reality of his circumstance without denial or blaming anyone, esp. God.
In this reading we sense Martha moving to acceptance. Jesus tells Martha “I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?” This question is for us as well –none of us can evade it, just like we cannot evade death Jesus is helping Martha see through resurrection eyes, and he does the same for us.
Yet Martha and Mary get Lazarus back. Their acceptance turns into a miracle – the point of this passage that Jesus has power even over death. Yet the response is not unanimous. There are still those who cannot accept this truth and plot to kill Jesus.
Acknowledging the reality of death is a process, but certainly one of clarity. It can be harder to acknowledge the smaller deaths in our lives because we sometimes are not fully aware of them as deaths. And refraining from judgement can also be difficult. To see with resurrection eyes, we must let go of judgements and open our hearts to receive God’s will for us.
We cannot do it on our own. Jesus calls to Lazarus “Come Out” – Jesus also beckons us to new life. He overcomes our inability to raise ourselves out of death.
Consider areas of death in your own life and the world around you – experiences of hopelessness, brokenness and mourning. What would resurrection look like? How can we respond to Jesus’ call to come out? How can we open ourselves to what God wants to show us?
My favorite prayer as a child was the serenity prayer. It speaks to me now:
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it;
Trusting that God will make all things right If I surrender to God’s will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with God forever and ever in the next. Amen.