A reading from the gospel according to John 11:19-27

19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
24 Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
26 and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Reflection: Living and Dying

Good News: Whoever believes in Jesus will never die.

Many people do not like to talk about death. It is too dreadful for them. Also, nobody wants to die now or in the near future except perhaps those who have already lost hope. Yet one thing is sure: we will all die sooner or later. It is therefore important that we should not fear death and instead be ready because it can come at any time.

In the gospel above, Jesus proclaims his divinity thus, “I AM the resurrection and the life”. He echoes the divine name given to Moses. Then He promised that anyone who believes in Him will never die. In other words, to believe in Jesus means to be saved from sin and death. People are afraid to die because they are not sure what happens next. Worse, they are worried they might go to hell! Others are afraid to die because they are worried about the people they will leave behind. Obviously, the fear of death shows the utter lack of faith in Jesus who is The way, The truth, and The life (John 14:6).

To really believe in Jesus means to have freedom from death and the fear of it because in Jesus, there is life. The life of a true believer is supposed to be filled with joy and peace of mind because he or she understands that God is in control of everything including physical death and family. The believer knows that He belongs to the eternal loving Father who will welcome him in His Kingdom when his earthly life comes to an end.

A true follower of Jesus spends his life, not in fear, but in constant awareness of the presence of “I AM” in his life. Thus, he is always full of joy though death accompanies him wherever he goes. He is also in constant awareness that every minute of life is a precious gift that should be spent in loving God and loving others. In this way, every minute of his life is just a preparation to that fateful moment – his own resurrection.

Like Martha in our reading, let us believe and proclaim our faith that Jesus is the Christ who will give eternal life.

*****

There is an important lesson to be learned about prayer. As we can observed, Martha said that had Jesus came earlier, his brother may not have died. Many times we think that our prayers have not been answered. The answers might have only been delayed. Let us never lose hope. God in His perfect time will answer our prayers. Let us just trust in His goodness.

*****

In the heart of Bethany, a small village near Jerusalem, grief and sorrow had settled over the home of Mary and Martha. Their beloved brother Lazarus had passed away, and the sisters were surrounded by friends and mourners offering their condolences. Amidst this atmosphere of loss, a powerful encounter took place that would forever change their understanding of life, death, and the promises of God.

We read in the gospel above that Jesus arrived in Bethany after Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Martha, hearing that Jesus was near, went out to meet Him. Her words to Jesus were filled with a mixture of faith and sorrow: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Yet, even in her grief, Martha’s faith shone brightly as she added, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus responded with a profound declaration, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha, holding onto her hope in the resurrection at the last day, agreed. But Jesus was about to reveal something far greater than she had imagined. He declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

This question posed by Jesus was not just for Martha, but for all of humanity. It challenges us to move beyond our understanding of life and death and to trust in the eternal promises of God. Martha’s response, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world,” is a powerful testament of faith that resonates through the ages.

In our moments of deepest sorrow and loss, we can find hope in the words of Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life. His power over death and His promise of eternal life offer us a hope that transcends our present circumstances. Just as Jesus brought comfort and hope to Martha and Mary, He offers the same to us today.

When we face the trials and losses of life, let us hold onto the assurance that Jesus is with us. He walks with us in our grief, and He offers us the promise of resurrection and life. In Him, we find the strength to endure, the hope to persevere, and the faith to believe that even in the darkest moments, the light of His love and power will shine through.

May this passage encourages us to trust in Jesus’ power and promises, reminding us that He is the source of eternal life and hope.