Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

Scripture: John 11:19-27

19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."

Meditation: For the past couple of weeks, I have been participating in a small discussion group regarding Pope Benedicts Encyclical on Hope. The theme of our discussion centered around the saying, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” Today’s Gospel message talks about the joy and the hope of our own resurrection. Martha approached Jesus with great confidence. She had no doubt that Jesus could raise he brother from the dead. She did not say if you can - she says I know you can, but will you… We too need to approach Christ with the same level of confidence. Jesus tells us that he is “the resurrection and the life, … and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” This is our hope, that through our faith we will find hope in eternal salvation. Martha recognized in Jesus this hope of eternal life. She says to Jesus, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Again, her statement is made without doubt. The grace of hope which was given to her allows her to realize the eternal salvation which awaits her. When Jesus asks her if she believes she replies, “Yes Lord; I believe…” She realizes that Jesus is the Christ and the kingdom of heaven which is “coming into the world.” The miracle of Lazarus is a sign of Christ’s power to give life to people. Therefore, as Christians, we believe and hope that death is not the end, but simply a step into eternal life. The Roman missal says, “Lord, for your faithful people life is c hanged, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.” What are you willing to die for? Do you believe in the resurrection and the life of the world to come? Do you that Christ is the source of eternal life? It is through our hope that we are saved.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Christ, you are the resurrection and the life.

Give me the strength to die to the worldly treasures so that I may know the eternal treasure of heaven.

I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon