Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, the one coming into the world, is the resurrection and the life.  To believe in him means to live, never to die.

It is so that the disciples may believe in Jesus that he does not go to sick Lazarus.  And when he does, Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days.

But Jesus, of course, Jesus still loves Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  And he does not hide his love for them.  For the tears of Mary and those with her deeply move and trouble him.  And he weeps later.  Then, as he comes to the tomb, he is deeply moved again.  How he loves his friend indeed! 

And there is no greater love than that of Jesus.  For it is the love of one who puts his life at risk.  After all, the folks in Judea have just tried to stone him there.  Later, the chief priests and the Pharisees will plan to put him to death for the good he shall have done for Lazarus.

Yes, the Teacher has dared to go back to Judea.  And the disciples are with him at Thomas’ behest who has said, “Let us also go to die with him.”  Do we go with him and them?  And is it enough for us to believe in him.  He says to each one of us, men and women who cannot help but face death, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Those believing in me, though they die, will live, and those living and believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

And the resurrection is not a moment in time (Comentarios al evangelio 5).  It is a person, Jesus.  Hence, to believe in him means communion with Jesus, love and intimacy with him.

Lord Jesus, as you raise Lazarus, you show that you are at once fully human and divine.  For you weep like us and you give him back his life, which only God can do.  Grant us to believe in you and to let ourselves be swept up in your great love.  Love that can do all and does not die ever.  Love that is infinitely creative, whose presence is real and which we can feel and welcome in the Eucharist (SV.EN XI:131).  Carried away thus by this love and alive though your Spirit, we shall step up to go on to carry out “the mission.”

22 March 2026
5th of Lent (A)
Ez 37, 12-14; Rom 8, 8-11; Jn 11, 1-45