Homily (Reflection) for the Fifth
Sunday of Lent (A) (2nd April, 2017) on the Gospel
Ezek
37:12-14;
Ps 129 (R. v.7);
Rom 8:8-11;
Jn 11:1-45 or Jn 11:3-7.17.20-27.33-45.
After Paulinus and Paulina had married for a while,
Paulinus sought and got his wife’s consent to search for a greener pasture in
the city. God blessed his efforts. However, when he returned to take Paulina to
the city she had been married to another man, Paul for about two years. That
was in obedience to her parents with whom she was staying and that of some of
her friends. Paul was living in the city and was also well-to-do. But later, he
experienced lots of setbacks in his business that they relocated to the
village. And with time the love they have for themselves began to dwindle
seriously to the extent that Paulina was sometimes beaten up by Paul. On the
other hand, God continued to bless Paulinus who later got married to another
woman with children.
Topic: Being a Friend of God.
Do you know that God loves you? Certainly, some may find it difficult
saying yes to this because of the situation in life. However, the truth is that
God loves each and every one of us no matter the condition one is in, cf. Jn 16:27. The problem may be one
expecting God to do what he/she wants, when he/she wants them, where he/she
wants, and as he/she wants them. Every condition may be a trial but we ought to
stand firm just like the Galatians did in the face of Paul’s condition, cf. Gal 4:14.
We read in today’s gospel that when Lazarus was ill, Mary
and Martha sent this message to their family friend: “… Lord, he whom you love
is ill”. Lazarus and his sisters being Jesus’ beloved, one would think that
Jesus would have set out immediately for Bethany to prevent him from
experiencing death but he did not. Instead he said: “… This sickness does not
lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be
glorified through it” (Jn 11:4).
Just like Lazarus’ illness was for the manifestation
of the glory of God, there is no condition one is in this life that will be for
the contrary. If there is any exception to this it must be those ones we put
themselves in. However, Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote: “and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that
we may also be glorified with him” (Rom
8:17). Some of the questions that came to me while reflecting on this
gospel include: What would have happened if Mary and Martha had no faith and sought
for the cure of their brother’s illness somewhere else that showed their lack
of faith in their friend, Jesus? Or if they had put something for him in the
casket or grave so that he would avenge his death? Again, what would have happened if Jesus met a native doctor
or more doing incantations and other things that go with it at his grave?
There are
some important questions for us because at the face of difficulties we do think
that God would not be able to deliver us. Sometimes it does seem that we want
to deliver ourselves first and then later come back to God. When the people of
Israel complained for lack of meat and God said that he would give them meat
Moses thought like some of us. He was like reminding God how many they were and
God asked him a question that is still relevant today: “… Is the LORD’s power
limited? …. (Num 11:23). Again, in
the prophet Isaiah God asked again:
Why, when I came,
was there no man? When I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot
redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the
sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water, and die of
thirst (Is 50:2).
The book of
Proverbs reads: “He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine
and oil will not be rich” (Prov 21:17).
In the same vein, he who looks for God because of miracles will never be a true
disciple. We are expected to glorify God by proving that we are really Jesus’ disciples
by bearing much fruit, cf. Jn 15:8.
Jesus first glorified God on earth by accomplishing his mission, cf. Jn 17:4. It is by believing in God and
doing his will that we will save ourselves for the glorious resurrection, cf. Mk 16:16, Jn 14:23. Always remember
this, God is ready and willing to vindicate us but when he comes, will he find
faith, cf. Lk 18:8. Paulina suffered
in the hands of Paul because she thought that she had found a better husband in
him and dropped Paulinus. In the same vein, if we do not stick to our marriage
with God we will suffer eternally in hell fire. The book of Job reads, “Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves;
therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty” (Job 5:17). Again, we also read, “...the LORD reproves him whom he
loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (Prov 3:12).
Dear one in
the Lord, if you are no longer married to God, do not let this Lent pass by.
Come back. God is ever ready to accept us back.
Bible Readings: Is 50:1-3; Jn 12:27-36; Jas 2:14-26; 4:1-10.
Thought for today: Do you know that you are God’s friend and that he
loves you so much?
Let us pray:
My God and my friend, may I understand what it means to
be your friend. Help me always to live my life as a sincere friend of yours by
doing what you want, how you want them, when you want them, and where you want
them – Amen.
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