From Tomb to Life: Finding Hope in Christ’s Resurrection

5 Sunday Lent, 3rd Scrutiny, John 11

The raising of Lazarus reveals that while death brings real grief, Christ transforms sorrow into hope through his power over death. By pointing to his own resurrection, Jesus shows that the life he offers is not temporary but eternal, a victory we share through baptism. Even now, this new life is at work in us as Christ frees us from what binds us and invites us to live in hope.

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Water, light, and life. These are the three themes we have been contemplating over these past Sundays as we have listened to these important stories from the Gospel of John. They invite us to reflect more deeply on our baptism: the light of faith we receive, the cleansing water that makes us a new creation, and the gift of the Holy Spirit poured into our lives.

Today, we turn to the theme of life. In the story of the raising of Lazarus, we are invited to reflect on how, in baptism, we are joined to the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. We receive the life of Jesus not only for the present, but also the promise of resurrection after death.

As we have seen in recent weeks, John tells his stories with multiple layers, offering different ways of seeing so that we may grasp a deeper truth. Today’s Gospel is no exception. In the raising of Lazarus, we are invited to contemplate three different tombs and to see how what Jesus does speaks directly to us, especially in relation to our baptism. 

The first tomb is the most obvious: the tomb of Lazarus. This is a deeply emotional story. Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, has died, and those around him are filled with grief. Mary and Martha mourn. The community gathers in sorrow. And we hear one of the shortest yet most powerful verses in Scripture: Jesus wept.

Here we are reminded that death touches every one of us. When a loved one dies, grief is real and profound. There is a story told of a child at a funeral who asked his grandmother, “Why do people cry if we believe the person is with God?” She replied, “Because love does not end when someone dies, and when love has nowhere to go, it becomes tears.” The child paused and said, “So crying is just love that is missing someone.” “Yes,” she said, “exactly.”

Jesus weeps. He knows the pain of loss. In the tomb of Lazarus, we see how death brings grief into our lives.

But John does not want us to remain there. He does not want us to stop at weeping. He wants our sorrow to be transformed into hope.

This leads us to the second tomb: the tomb of Jesus. Throughout this Gospel, John intentionally draws connections between the raising of Lazarus and the resurrection of Christ. Both tombs are caves sealed with a stone. In both stories, Mary is present in mourning. In both, there is an important role for Thomas. And in both, there are burial cloths.

When Lazarus comes out of the tomb, he is still wrapped in burial bands, with a cloth covering his face. Jesus instructs those present to unbind him. Lazarus is restored to life, but he will one day die again. He still needs those burial cloths.

By contrast, when Jesus rises from the dead, the burial cloths are left behind in the tomb. They are found there by Peter and the beloved disciple. Jesus does not need them again. His resurrection is not a return to earthly life but the definitive victory over death. He will never die again.

This is the heart of our hope. Jesus not only raises Lazarus but points forward to his own resurrection, which conquers death completely. And through baptism, we are united to him. Because Christ has died and risen, we trust that we too will rise.

This brings us to the third tomb: our own.

This Gospel invites us to reflect not only on the death of others but on our own mortality. Yet it calls us to face death with hope. As Saint Paul teaches, if we have died with Christ, we will rise with him. In baptism, we are already united to his death and resurrection.

Even more, this new life is not only something we await in the future. It is something we begin to live now.

We see this in Jesus’ conversation with Martha. She already believes in the resurrection on the last day. But Jesus deepens her understanding when he says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Eternal life is not only a future promise. It is a present reality for those who live in relationship with him.

Through baptism, we already share in this new life. We are made new in Christ.

And just as Lazarus is unbound, so too we are called to be unbound. The Lord desires to free us from whatever holds us back. As we approach Holy Week, we might ask: where do we need to be set free? From resentment, from fear, from habits that weigh us down, from anything that keeps us from living fully in the life Christ offers?

Today’s Gospel is about life. It is about seeing the tombs of Lazarus, of Jesus, and of our own lives in a new way. As we draw closer to Holy Week, let us ask for the grace to live more deeply the gift of our baptism, trusting that Christ has come to give us new life, both now and forever.

 

Seeing the World with the Light of Faith

4 Sunday of Lent, Second Scrutiny

Faith shapes the way we see and interpret the world around us. In the Gospel of the man born blind, Jesus not only restores physical sight but leads the man to a deeper vision of faith, recognizing him as Lord. Through the gift of baptism, Christ gives us the light to see God’s presence in both the blessings and struggles of our lives.

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Faith can be, for many of us, a struggle. Believing that God exists, believing that God is close to us and cares for us, can be difficult, especially at times in life when things are hard. At those moments we may ask ourselves important questions. What does it mean to have faith? How do I know if I have faith? What does faith look like concretely in my life?

Faith can be described in different ways, but the Gospel today, the story of the man born blind, teaches us that faith has something to do with how we see the world. Faith has to do with how we see reality and how we interpret what is happening around us.

When we think about it, all of us have different lenses through which we view the world. We interpret reality in different ways. Recently I have noticed that objects at the back of the church are becoming a little blurry. I am having a harder time seeing things that are far away. So last year I went to the eye doctor for the first time to have my eyes tested. The verdict was that my eyes are getting older and that I will probably need glasses soon, though not quite yet. Many of you who wear glasses know how much difference the right lenses can make. With the proper lenses we see things clearly. If we put on glasses with the wrong prescription, we cannot see properly at all.

The lenses through which we view the world matter greatly. Sometimes the lens through which we see reality is shaped by our temperament, our upbringing, or our personality. One common distinction people make is between the optimist and the pessimist. Neither way of seeing the world is perfect. The optimist sees things with hope but may sometimes overlook suffering or difficulty. The pessimist may see problems clearly and be pragmatic, but may also fall into discouragement or hopelessness. Another lens is that of cynicism. As someone once said, the cynic knows the price of everything but the value of nothing.

The way we interpret the world has a great impact on how we live.

In today’s Gospel we see that Jesus gives us something new. He gives us faith so that we can see the world differently. Faith allows us to interpret what is happening around us and to recognize God present in it.

At first glance the Gospel is simply about Jesus restoring sight to a man who was born blind. But this is the Gospel according to John, and in John’s Gospel there are always deeper layers. The story is not only about physical sight. It is about something more important.

We see this from the very beginning when Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Light and darkness are central themes in John’s Gospel. When we have light, we can see and walk clearly. When we are in darkness, we cannot see.

As the story unfolds, several people witness what Jesus has done, yet they interpret the event very differently.

Some respond negatively. The religious leaders investigate what happened, but they focus on the fact that Jesus performed the miracle on the Sabbath. Because of the lens through which they interpret events, they conclude that Jesus must be a sinner. They refuse to see the good that God has done before their eyes.

Others respond with hesitation. The parents of the man who was healed know that their son can now see, yet they remain cautious and distant. Their faith does not lead them to recognize who Jesus truly is.

Finally we encounter the man who was healed. He grows gradually in his understanding of Jesus. If we listen carefully to the titles he uses for Jesus throughout the story, we see the progression of his faith.

At first he simply calls Jesus a man. Later, when speaking to the religious leaders, he calls Jesus a prophet. His understanding has grown. Finally, when he meets Jesus again at the end of the Gospel, he calls him Lord and worships him.

This man experiences two miracles. The first is the restoration of his physical sight. The second is the growth of faith. He comes to see Jesus for who he truly is.

Faith allows us to see the world differently as well. We may see good things happening around us and think they are simply coincidences. We may encounter suffering and conclude that God is absent. Faith is the lens that allows us to interpret reality differently. Faith allows us to recognize God’s goodness in our lives and to trust that God is present even in difficulty.

To have the eyes of faith means recognizing that Christ, who suffered and died for us, remains close to us when we suffer. It means believing that God continues to accompany us.

This kind of faith is a gift that we first receive in baptism. Once again, John’s Gospel contains several layers. On one level the man receives his sight. On another level the story is about faith. On yet another level it points to baptism.

Consider the way Jesus heals the man. He makes mud with his saliva and places it on the man’s eyes, and then sends him to wash in the pool. There is an anointing and there is washing with water. Many commentators have seen in this an image of baptism.

In the early Church this Gospel was closely connected with baptism. Jesus, the light of the world, enlightens those who are baptized so that they can see the world differently. In fact, in the early Church baptism was sometimes called photismos, a Greek word meaning enlightenment. Catechumens preparing for baptism were called those who were about to be enlightened, and the baptized were called the enlightened.

In baptism we receive a new way of seeing.

As we continue our journey through Lent, we might ask ourselves a simple question. What is the lens through which I see the world? Do I see the world with the eyes of Christ? When I experience blessings in my life, do I recognize them as gifts from God? When I encounter suffering, do I trust that Jesus remains with me?

Let us pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit so that the grace we received in baptism may grow stronger within us. May we receive the faith to see the world with the light of Christ. 

The Thirst Only Christ Can Satisfy

3 Sunday Lent, year A, First Scrutiny

The first scrutiny invites both the catechumens preparing for baptism and all the baptized to reflect on the deeper meaning of baptism in their lives. In the story of the Samaritan woman, Jesus reveals that our deepest thirst for love, purpose, and acceptance cannot be satisfied by the many things we often turn to. Christ alone gives the living water of the Holy Spirit that truly fills the human heart.

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Today we begin the first of the three scrutinies. The word “scrutiny” comes from a root meaning to inquire, to question, to examine more deeply. These three scrutinies, which take place this Sunday and the following two Sundays, are especially important for the members of our RCIA group who are preparing to enter the Catholic Church at Easter.

This year, however, we are reminded that the scrutinies are not only for them. They are an opportunity for all of us who are baptized to deepen our own baptismal commitments and to reflect on what baptism means in our lives.

As you probably know, the Church follows a three year cycle of Sunday readings: Years A, B, and C. Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew, and that is the year we are in now. In many years, the special Gospel readings associated with the scrutinies are used only at the Masses where the scrutinies themselves are celebrated. This year is an exception. During this Year A cycle, all of us at every Sunday Mass have the opportunity to hear these important readings from the Gospel of John that are connected with the scrutinies.

These three Gospel readings focus on themes that are closely related to baptism. Today we heard the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, which invites us to reflect on the meaning of water in baptism. Next week we will hear the story of Jesus healing the man born blind, which invites us to reflect on the gift of light and the enlightenment that comes through baptism. Finally, in two weeks we will hear the story of the raising of Lazarus, which encourages us to reflect on the new life that Christ brings through baptism.

This first scrutiny, then, focuses on the theme of water.

Water, of course, is central to baptism. But in the Gospel of John, water carries a deeper meaning. To begin, we should appreciate how important water was in the time of Jesus. Here in New Westminster, sometimes it feels as if we have too much water. Just a few days ago it was raining, and you may have noticed that the water was flowing across Royal Avenue. At times it almost looks like a small river. Thankfully it bypasses the church and makes its way down the hill, eventually reaching the Fraser River again.

In the time of Jesus, however, water was not so plentiful. If you have visited the Holy Land or seen pictures of it, you may know about the wadis. These are riverbeds that flow during the rainy season but remain completely dry during the rest of the year. Finding water for crops, livestock, and drinking was often a real challenge. Because of this, wells were extremely important. People depended on them for their daily survival, just as the Samaritan woman does in today’s Gospel.

But we must also look deeper, because water in John’s Gospel often symbolizes something more.

In the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, there is a deeper, symbolic meaning. The Fathers of the Church noticed this very early on. For example, St. Augustine reflected on how the woman’s desire for water represents a deeper longing within her. Water becomes a symbol of the deeper needs of the human heart: the need for love, acceptance, and purpose. These are desires that every one of us carries within us.

St. Augustine also points out an interesting detail in the story. We learn something about this woman from the time of day when she comes to draw water. John tells us that she comes to the well at noon. In that part of the world, noon is the hottest part of the day. It is the time when you would normally avoid going out to draw water. Most people would go early in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler.

The fact that the woman comes at noon suggests that she hoped no one else would be there. She seems to have been somewhat of an outsider in her community. For whatever reasons, she did not quite fit in. As the conversation continues, we learn one possible reason why. Jesus tells her that she has had five husbands, and the man she is now with is not her husband.

Because of this situation, she may have found herself on the margins of her community. She comes to the well not only for physical water, but also with a deeper longing. She is searching for love, acceptance, and purpose.

In this sense, she is very much like each of us. We all carry these same desires in our hearts. At times, however, we try to satisfy those desires in ways that do not truly fulfill us. The Samaritan woman, it seems, has been searching in different directions, perhaps looking for love in ways that have not brought her the happiness she hoped for.

Some interpreters have also suggested that the reference to her husbands might symbolize the different idols worshiped in that region. In that sense, the story can remind us that we sometimes try to find meaning, acceptance, or fulfillment in things that are not truly God, things that ultimately cannot satisfy our deepest thirst.

This Sunday invites us to ask ourselves what those idols might be in our own lives. Where do we look for purpose, meaning, or acceptance in ways that do not truly satisfy us?

Sometimes this can take very ordinary forms. It might be endless scrolling on our phones, constantly checking for new notifications in the hope that something will fill a certain emptiness within us. It might take the form of workaholism, alcoholism, or other habits that promise satisfaction but leave us still thirsty. It might even involve relationships that, in the end, do not bring us the love and peace we are seeking.

Like the Samaritan woman, we too can search for love, acceptance, and purpose in places that do not ultimately fulfill us.

In the Gospel, however, Jesus is presented as the one who can truly satisfy this thirst.

To appreciate this more fully, it helps to know something about the significance of wells in the Old Testament. Interestingly, wells are often places where people meet their future spouses. Moses meets his wife at a well. Jacob meets his wife at a well.

The other day I happened to see an infographic online that was showing how people have met their spouses over the past seventy years. In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, most people met through friends, family members, or work. Those accounted for the great majority of relationships. Over time, especially with the rise of the internet and smartphones, online dating became increasingly common. Today, depending on the statistics you look at, a very large percentage of couples meet that way.

But before online dating apps, there were wells.

In the Old Testament, wells were places where people met and formed relationships. So when Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, this detail is significant. In a symbolic way, Jesus is presented as the true bridegroom, the one who can truly satisfy what she has been seeking.

Notice also that the woman has had five husbands and is now with a sixth man. In biblical symbolism, the number seven represents completeness or perfection. In this sense, Jesus becomes the seventh, the one who finally fulfills what she has been searching for.

Jesus promises her not physical water, but living water, water that will become within her a spring welling up to eternal life. Later in the Gospel of John, we come to understand that this living water symbolizes the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the gift we receive in baptism and which is strengthened in confirmation.

In this encounter, Christ promises to give the Samaritan woman the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift that can truly fill her heart with meaning, love, and direction.

As we celebrate these scrutinies with the members of our RCIA group, this Gospel invites each of us to examine our own lives. Like the Samaritan woman, we all carry jars with us. Sometimes those jars are empty, and we try to fill them with things that do not truly satisfy.

What are the idols in our lives? Where are we searching for fulfillment in ways that leave us still thirsty?

At the end of the Gospel, the Samaritan woman leaves her water jar behind. She no longer needs the water she came to draw, because she has encountered something far greater. She has encountered Christ.

As we journey closer to Easter and the great celebration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ, we are invited to remember our own baptism. Christ desires to fill our hearts with the gift of the Holy Spirit. And like the Samaritan woman, we too may find that we are able to leave behind some of the jars we have been carrying, the things we have tried to fill with what does not truly satisfy.

Christ alone gives the living water that satisfies the deepest thirst of the human heart.