I am the Resurrection and the Life 

The “lollipop lady” near St Francis School wished me good morning today and said, “I can’t believe it’s Friday again so soon.  Where did the week go?”  Already it is the Fifth Sunday of Lent and Easter is just two weeks away.  We still have time to prepare for our great celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

The readings all point us to the Resurrection of Jesus, especially the Gospel.  In this Gospel, John uses the word “signs” for Jesus’ miracles and he describes seven of them.  The first was the turning of water into wine at Cana.  Today we hear about the last one, the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Why was this event a “sign”?  Signs are things which reveal things to us and show us the way.  When we are trying to find a destination we look out for signs which will point us in the right direction.

Jesus knew the direction his own life was taking and he even told his disciples that the Son of Man would suffer and die but rise up on the third day, but they didn’t seem to grasp this.  To prepare for his own death and resurrection and to give proof of his great words, “I am the resurrection and the life,” he demonstrated his power over death with Lazarus.

The ultimate proof of his words was his own resurrection, and that is what we are looking forward to celebrating in two weeks’ time.  But it’s important to remember that we are not awaiting the Resurrection.  The victory of the Resurrection has already been won.  We can experience the Resurrection here and now, when we die to sin, and find new life in Jesus.  

God bless, Fr Kevin.