Jesus is in Bethany where his good friend Lazarus has died. Martha goes out to meet Jesus, noting that if Jesus had been present, Lazarus might not have died. Jesus tells Martha that Lazarus will rise again; he adds, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Then, Jesus poses a pivotal question to Martha, and to us, “Do you believe this?”

This “All Souls’ Day” we affirm our faith in the resurrection of the “faithful departed.” We believe that Christ bodily rose and now lives; we also believe with the Church that we too will bodily rise.

Gospel • JOHN 11:17-27

When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And 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, “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 everyone 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: “366 Days with the Lord 2020,” 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.