HOMILY FOR FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A, 25TH MARCH, 2023

Readings: Ez. 37:12-14; Ps. 130; Rom. 8:8-11; John 11:1-45

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

WHY ARE WE OFTEN AFRAID OF DEATH?

 

As human beings, there is this constant fear of what becomes of us when we die. Where are we going when we die? Is death the end of life? Is there another life after death? These questions becomes more interesting especially at this time when the whole world is facing the terrible crisis of war, natural disasters, insecurity and people are dying in their thousands, with many more people now suffering from diseases and preventable sickness, we can see how the whole world is gripped with fear of death.

 

Little wonder, most  people have all kinds of questions and reservations about terminologies such:  ‘death, resurrection, heaven and hell', they often wonder what it will be like. I find the answer to these questions in today’s Gospel reading, where Jesus showed us the power of life over death, in bringing back to life a man who was dead and was buried for four days, witnessed by many people who happened to be there. The story of the resurrection of Lazarus was a great proof for all those who witnessed it, showing the power and authority of Jesus over life and death. This is something that no one could believe.

 

In this Gospel we heard how Jesus wept for his friend Lazarus. This reveals Jesus' compassion towards the week and sinful nature of humanity. Telling us how this compassionate love of Jesus which springs from the love of God the Father is linked to his historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, and constitutes the basis of the church’s liberating activity. Hence, this passage of the resurrection of the dead Lazarus is presented to us this fifth Sunday of the Holy Season of Lent to prepare us for the celebration of the Lord’s own Resurrection at Easter. The event which shows the triumph of life over death and good over evil.

 

Thus, when in the Gospel according to Luke 20:27-38, Jesus was asked a very specific question about resurrection and heaven by the Sadducees, who do not believe in an afterlife at all. Jesus in response, distinguishes between “children of this world” and “children of the resurrection”. For him, the children of this world focus their attention on achievements. Taking wives and husbands, building mansions and acquiring wealth. They get involved in projects in such a way that they are ready to kill. They sacrifice important values to attain high positions for themselves and their families; they scheme and connive togther to prove themselves better than others.

 

This is not far from what we are experiencing in our country today, where people are acting in a very selfish and irrational manner in the different political offices, in public sectors, in banks, markets and shops, hoarding money and increasing the price of many essential goods and services, thereby denying many of those who need the goods the opportunity to get something especially the poor as many have hoard the money in there houses and offices and we are all suffering.

 

The root of this, is that many of us are so afraid of facing death that we end up acting in self-preservation and selfishness, even causing hurt to others while doing so. This shows that we have no faith in God anymore, that is why we end up doing all these ugly things out of fear of death. Hence, we must know that fear is the method by which the devil is trying very hard to prevent us from turning to God.

 

The truth remains that, the more we fear death, the more in fact we draw closer to it, because we have little or no faith in God. We have forgotten that life or death is in the hands of God alone, and none of us have the power to extend our lives for even a single second.

 

On the other hand, the children of the resurrection are those who are judged worthy of a place in heaven. They have no fear of death because the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in them, and he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to their own mortal bodies through the Spirit of Christ living in them.

 

They are men and women of our time who give themselves to noble causes. They give themselves to the service of others: they are those who see to the good of others. Those parents who teach their children the ways of the Lord by their practical way of life, they help those that are victims of the challenging event of our time. They are friends who speak the truth and stand by it. They are political leaders who renounce power rather than compromise principles. They are public officials including police officers, businessmen and women who stands for what is right and just in the societies.

 

They often do not see tangible results, their sacrifices may seem useless. But they maintain their dignity, their sense of self worth, their sense of righteousness, they “cannot die”. They are sons and daughters of God who have conquered death. So, like Jesus they teach us to understand what it means to be the same as the angels, what it means to remain faithful to our belief, what it means to have faith and hope in God, what it means to say that this world is not my home.

 

Dear friends, as we move towards the holy week, the readings invite us to journey with the Lord in his passion so as to share in his resurrection. For we heard the Lord in our first reading saying: I am now going to open your graves; I mean to raise you from your graves and put my spirit in you, and you will live, and be resettled in your own soil.

 

And St. Paul in our second reading said: if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you. Therefore, we do not have to be afraid of death, for God has conquered death through the grace of resurrection. But do you believe in resurrection?

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are often afraid of death. Help us to realize that you have conquered death and have giving us the grace of resurrection we asked this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday to you.