The power described of Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospel is astounding. So astounding it seems unbelievable. It is astounding enough that Jesus heals people’s ailing bodies. How is it to be believed, as today’s Gospel relates, that Jesus brings people forth into life after they have died? Can it be believed from our own experiences?
There are times when we are brought forth from death into life. It might be our death was from a hurt so deep we do not remember the precise moment we died. The hurt, the shock drove us first into paralysis. We were numb for a while and then perhaps amnesia set in to block the surfacing pain. But the pain would not be allayed and so we employed a variety of painkillers, not just ones that come in a bottle. We went through the motions for a few days and then the days became months and the months turned into years. Perhaps our death came because we have been oppressed, for too long, and we cannot remember the exact moment we lost that last ounce of our energy. It may be that we have been censored, all our lives, and we cannot recall a time when our words were ever our own. The hurts, the oppressions, the censorships fill our memory. They fill our identity and we do not know how to live anymore. We find ourselves among the tombs but we cannot quite put our finger on when we took up residence there. Until one day we are called forth again. It can happen in a moment or it may take many moments to get us breathing again, drawing in life-giving air and inspiration. One day, someone whose love is greater than death heals us forth into life again. Flowing from a power beyond ourselves alone, vitality is infused and we are released from all that held us bound.
The power of divinity is always the power to bring to life those who have died.
Prayer: Power of Life, I live with the power to bring forth life.
Question: What is it that is killing me and am I ready to be unbound, to live again?
April 6, 2014 Gospel John 11:1-45 Fifth Sunday of Lent