Living Life as Christ's Disciples

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 3/17/05)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde on the Fifth Sunday of Lent at St. Louis Church in Alexandria on March 13.

Once again, this Sunday, as in the past two Sundays, an image is so clearly projected before us through the Scriptures. Today’s image is life whereas on the Third Sunday of Lent — two weeks ago — the image was water and, on last Sunday, the image was light.

In today’s Gospel account, Jesus assures Martha and Mary that life will triumph over death. As a sign, He raised their brother Lazarus back to human life; and as proof of His divinity and the guarantee of our absolute trust in His promise, He conquered sin and eternal death by His death on the Cross and His resurrection on the third day.

Yes, Christ assures us that life is more powerful than death precisely because He is the source of unending life and those who are united to Him through faith will share in His victory of life over death. "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live; and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

Some practical applications can be made to our lives as Christ’s disciples.

(1) We all must encounter human death: our own and the death of loved ones and friends, colleagues and neighbors. How do we face death? With hope, because we are Christ’s disciples. Yes, sorrow remains. As today’s Gospel account reminds us, "Jesus wept." But beyond sorrow, tears and the pain of human separation, there is a deep enduring hope that our loved ones live and we shall live, provided we are united with Christ. There awaits a future resurrection — unending life! A clear affirmation is found in both the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed.

(2) We all sin. Some sins are serious, grave — "mortal" we call them. As a result, God’s life within us is lost. Other sins are less serious — "venial" we call them. As a result, God’s life within us is diminished.

In any case, we are tied and bound by our sins, like Lazarus in the tomb. But, Jesus so desires that we be freed, we be forgiven, we be restored. The sign of this passing from death to life is the Sacrament of Penance. There, the priest, the visible sign of Christ and the Church absolves us, frees us, restores us.

Lent is a season for Christ’s disciples to be renewed and remade in His image; He alone is our life.

This morning, the Gospel words are being relived: "The teacher is here and is asking for you." Jesus is here — in this Eucharist, longing to nourish us with His very self. Jesus is present in the Sacrament of Penance, desiring to forgive us all our sins. Jesus will be at our side at the moment of death, waiting to lead us home.

Yes, the Lord Jesus is our Life! As Lent draws closer to its end, with Martha we proclaim: "Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are Christ, the Son of God, the One who is coming into the world." In these words, we find true life!

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