April 02, 2017
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Yesterday I listened to a conversation on extending life on NPR. The study is funded by Silicon Valley and Nasa. Researchers have identified a molecule in all forms of life (mice & men) that is critical for vitality. When the molecule declines aging increases and the life form becomes more susceptible to disease. Do we want to live longer? Is it selfish keeping our place at the table of life and denying a place to future generation? In our Gospel today Jesus is talking about life. “I am the resurrection and the life.†Do we believe this? Martha and Mary express this belief yet understandably are deeply concerned and grieving the death of their brother Lazarus. There are two Greek words for life: “bio†and “zoe.†“Bio†is biological and “zoe†is life not confined or limited to our human bodies. In the novel: “My Name Is Asher Lev†a boy, an artist, draws a bird, fallen and dead on the ground. He takes the sketch to his Father and asks: "Why did the bird die?" His father has difficulty explaining and ends by saying: “My Asher if life went on forever nothing would be precious.†The restoration of Lazarus to life is secondary to the primary appeal Jesus is making to Martha and Mary (and to us) to experience “precious†life in him. Even before we die there is the possibility of fullness of life in Christ. Lent prepares us to enter into the paschal mystery – the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Fourth Sunday of Lent
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Passion Sunday
