The Gospel of John, chapter 11:25

The doctrine of the Resurrection is so important to our spiritual lives that St. Paul declared that: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.” ( 1 Corinthians 15 : 17 )  The Resurrection changed a group of frightened disciples into men of courage who could go forth boldly to transform a world, enslaved by the pitiless might of the Roman Empire, into a world of Christlike compassion and love. All this took place because Jesus conquered death and sin, and made it possible for us to rise to the new life of the gospel. It is imperative to say ‘yes’ to the Resurrection, and not just give lip service to the new life and endless possibilities it offers. That was the problem with poor Martha ( John, chapter eleven ) who was content to pay lip service to the Resurrection when Jesus visited her home after the death of her brother, Lazarus. Her faith was weak and she was upset that Jesus had not arrived earlier for she believed that if He had arrived when Lazarus was alive, he “would not have died.” ( John 11 : 21 )

Then, Jesus said to her, “you brother will rise again”; and Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again on the last day.” ( John 11 : 24 )  That’s when Jesus corrected Martha’s misunderstanding about the resurrection; she was right in what she said, but was wrong, very wrong, in what she ignored. She failed to acknowledge that the resurrection is not only about rising again on the last day; it is also about rising to new life today. Jesus’s Resurrection from the dead makes it possible for us to experience the new life of the gospel today, right in the midst of real life, among the pots and pans of the kitchen, in the supermarket, in the classroom, with our colleagues at work, in our relationships with the Boss and with the Janitor. The way we treat one another is the gauge of how we believe in Him. That is why He said: “whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” ( John 11 : 26 )

Resurrection is about rising every day to live a new life, inspired by the gospel. It is about greeting the day with a new attitude that builds up rather than destroy; that spreads forgiveness among friends and acquaintances over real or perceived offenses; that reaches out to the least of our brothers and sisters for ” whatsoever we do to the least ” among us we do to Christ. ( Matthew 25 : 40 ) Jesus can raise us up right now, give us new life, help us to fight selfishness, make us whole, and fill us with a joy that lasts.

This is the good news that Jesus preached while He walked the earth; and it is the good news He conveyed to Martha in today’s gospel: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” ( John 11 : 25 )

“Do you believe this?”

That is the question Jesus addressed to Martha, and that it is the question He addresses to us today. It is imperative we say ‘yes ‘ to the living Jesus and not just give lip service.

Fr. Hugh Duffy