REFLECTIONS TODAY
Like most Jews, Martha believes in the resurrection of the dead. So when Jesus says that her brother Lazarus will rise, she answers, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” But the distant, unknown future is hardly a balm for her present sorrow. Thus Jesus tells her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” He assures Martha that one who believes in him has eternal life. One does not have to wait to pass on to the other life to experience the divine life that Jesus brings. One who believes and grafts his life in Jesus no longer lives in the pattern of this world—but according to the mind of Jesus.
The raising of Lazarus proves to Martha that indeed Jesus has the power to raise the dead to life. Lazarus retains his earthly life, but someday he, too, will die again. But what happens to him is a prelude to a far greater gift: eternal life for the faithful ones obtained by Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. This life begins to be experienced on earth through faith in the Son of God.
GOSPEL • JOHN 11:19-27
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.