5^th Sunday of Lent—The God of Love is “All In”!

 Today we listen and see the last and greatest “sign” found in John’s Gospel.  The Raising of Lazarus, disciple and friend of Jesus.  I would like to bring you back to one point from last week’s homily, St. John does not describe the wonders of Jesus as miracles, but as signs.  And signs almost always points to something else not to itself.  So if we use that definition of a sign we cannot end our hearing and or contemplation at the Raising of Lazarus, the Sign, but see what the sign points too.

As the sacred texts are proclaimed yet again in our hearing, we are to become aware that Lazarus’ story and his experience are a promise to every believer. Just as Jesus loved Lazarus (John 11:3, 36), so does Jesus love us. Just as Jesus wept for Lazarus (John 11:35), so is Jesus fully and even emotionally invested in our well-being. AND just as Lazarus was raised, so every believer begins to live life anew at baptism and, after death, rises to live forever in glory with the Lord.

Yes Jesus Loves us…that a song!

Yes Jesus Loves us!

Yes Jesus loves us the bible tell me so…

Not only does Jesus love his friend Lazarus, but he loves the saint and the sinner, the Rich young man…Mark 10, “Jesus look at him and loved him”…Go, sell all you have and give to the poor and your will have treasure in heaven.  Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery,  “does anyone condemn you?”  No sir, she replied.  Then Jesus said, “Then neither do I, go and sin no more.”  He loved Peter, after his denial.  He loved the thief on the cross, “This day you will be with me in paradise”.  And of course he loved his mother, from the cross Jesus, uttered, “Woman, this is your son, (and to John) this is your mother.”  And Jesus loves you…the bible tell us so!

He is fully invested in our well-being, even emotional invested as Jesus, wept at the tomb of Lazarus…I have said this before, but it was brought back to mind yesterday, at the first ever Archdiocesan conference, ONE FAITH, ONE FAMILY. Todd Sylvester, one of our long standing youth ministers in the Archdiocese said, “Our God is ‘all in!’”  There is never a time when God is not thinking about you. You are here because God wants you here. Our God knew you before you were born, while you were being knitted in your mother’s womb.  Our God has claimed you and adopted you.  Our God desires intimacy with you. Our God desires to save you from your sin.  Our God calls you his beloved into eternity, into his Glory, into Everlasting Life!

If God forgot you for one second, (my wise mother would say), you and I would cease to exist.  It is impossible for him to forget you.  And yet we say, where is God?  This is human, but God’s response is Divine and Eternal, “here I AM…Be not afraid”.  Our God’s love is never ending, not for one second, He creates us to LIVE!  And not Die!

I will not leave you orphaned, I will be with you until the end of time!

AND just as Lazarus was raised, so every believer begins to live life anew at baptism and, after death, rises to live forever in glory with the Lord.  Yes, the Raising of Lazarus, is a foretaste and a promise that we too are raised, in Christ, because Christ is the Resurrection and the Life.  Our Baptism, draws us into a death like his so to be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Rom 6:5).

In the Letter to the Roman, St. Paul says, If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also.” (Rom 8:10).

Life does not end in death for the one who believes.  Jesus says to Martha, “I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believe in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

And Martha utters the words of all who believe.  “Yes Lord I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

We are ever closer to the moment when we remember and celebrate our redemption…in two weeks, we will be called to renew our Baptismal Promises and awaken again the Life the Lord has given us!  A life destined to Rise again with the one who has loved us for all eternity.  This is our Hope, this is our Salvation.

Our God is all in! How about you?