REJOICE: GOD WILL RAISE YOU FROM THE GRAVE.
Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Fifth Sunday of Lent A
Psalm. 130: 1-8 (R. 7b)
Second Reading. Romans 8: 8-11
Gospel. John 11: 1-45
TOPIC FOR REFLECTION
FROM THE GRAVE TO NEW LIFE
The symbol of a grave means the bottomless pit of sin
The symbol of New Life means Freedom from sin.
In truth, mortal sins are deadly sins, hence the Church defines it thus:
"Grave sins can be classed as sins against God, neighbor, and self, and can further be divided into carnal and spiritual sins" (CCC 1853).
The Catholic Church technically uses the word "Grave" as a mortal sin, which means deadly. The word Grave does not only mean the tomb but spiritually means deadly sin. To commit a grave sin means to commit a deadly sin.
Anyone who commits, lives, and dwells in grave sins means he is dead.
The three readings presented to us the symbolic message of raising from the grave of sin to new life.
In the first reading; God says He will raise us from the grave to give us new life, and Jesus demonstrated it in the Gospel when Lazarus His friend who had died and buried for 4 days was raised from the grave.
Meanwhile, the second reading said that those who live in the flesh can not please God, except those who are in the Spirit.
So, here is what it means when God says He will raise us from our graves and give us new life.
Recalling from creation...
God is Life
The Word of God is Jesus
The breath of God is the Holy Spirit
The breath of God is the life in us, because after He created man, He breathed into his nostrils, and this breath of God becomes the life that sustains man. Cf. Gen. 2: 7.
Invariably, we are called a living being because of God's breath in us.
By implication, if the breath of God in man is the Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the Blessed Trinity, who is also God.
By implication, God is the life we breathe, since God's breath is God
Therefore, because humanity has fallen short of the glory of God, and God who knows He is the life that sustains us individually, does not want us to die in our deadly sinful nature and decides to send His Son Jesus to redeem us.
Jesus' coming gave new life to humanity, he raised us from the grave through his death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave.
Today, the Lord has promised us new life, and He is ready to raise us from the grave if we approach Him at the Sacramental confession.
So, children of God, let us rise from our sinful graveyard and allow God to give us new fresh life.
Recall again that...
1. God has promised to raise us from our graves to give us new life. So, be hopeful, He never fails, and He will do it. Let's make ourselves available to Him.
2. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after 4 days, He will raise us from our worst situation into the best form of life. Let's faithfully be hopeful.
3. St. Paul encourages us not to walk in the flesh, but to walk in the Spirit if we want to rise with Christ. We should combat the evil in us, and allow the Spirit of God to lead and direct the affairs of our lives always.
Peace ✌️ be with you.
Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.
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