All men and women are asked, do you believe? Do you believe in the One who says, “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.” (Jn 11;25)
Before one can answer fully, with love in their heart, a process is needed. There must be a desiring, a dialogue, a decision, and then a declaration can be given. Time, reflection, prayer, reasoning, an infusion of Spirit, transforms one into a relationship with the One who loves us. It is a relationship joined through the Cross and Resurrection. Lazarus, Martha and Mary had this: a close relationship with Christ.
Lazarus, around whom this miracle of rising from the dead revolves, speaks not a word. Yet we remember him. He stands for all men: men who must die; men who have sinned, men trapped in their own tomb of sinfulness, yet loved by Christ. It is for them that Christ weeps. It is for us.
Death comes to Lazarus; death which has no power, no hold over Christ. It is a death which Christ will overcome with His own Resurrection; death which has no permanent hold over those close friends of Christ who have His Spirit within them. It is a death which can have no power over those who can say, “I believe.”
If we, like Martha, running out to meet Jesus, affirming her faith, being bold in her request to Jesus to intercede to God, His Father, acknowledging not my will, but Thy will, then we too can say, ”I believe.” We too will then be raised from death to new life.
This is our hope, our sureness of belief, our love for our close friend Christ. It is not based on the miracles and signs He can do, but for the life He gives; it is based on His great love for us and for the great “I do,” He gave to the Father for us.
Death comes to Lazarus; death which has no power, no hold over Christ. It is a death which Christ will overcome with His own Resurrection; death which has no permanent hold over those close friends of Christ who have His Spirit within them. It is a death which can have no power over those who can say, “I believe.”
If we, like Martha, running out to meet Jesus, affirming her faith, being bold in her request to Jesus to intercede to God, His Father, acknowledging not my will, but Thy will, then we too can say, ”I believe.” We too will then be raised from death to new life.
This is our hope, our sureness of belief, our love for our close friend Christ. It is not based on the miracles and signs He can do, but for the life He gives; it is based on His great love for us and for the great “I do,” He gave to the Father for us.
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