Celebrating 100 over years in Irondequoit
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Cycle A
- The sacraments lift us up.
- Q310: John always seems to weave his stories with a main plot and one or more subplots. Is there more going on here than the great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:1-45)?
- Q466: What a powerful miracle, the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11)! But how does it possibly relate to me today?
During World War II, Geoffrey Jackson, a young British Catholic, made the acquaintance of an older Catholic man in the Middle East. The older man, who was dying and aware of it, did not hesitate to share his wisdom with this new young friend. The most important thing, he advised, is to cling to the Mass at all costs. No matter how routine it could seem to be at times, he said, hold on to it and you will "surely come out on the other side with certainty and peace of heart."
After the war, Jackson entered the British diplomatic service and was eventually named the United Kingdom's ambassador to Uruguay. In 1971, during a guerrilla uprising by the Tupamaros, Ambassador Jackson was kidnapped, drugged, and locked into an underground prison. His captors held him there for nine months, with daily threats of death. Only lately has he set down on paper an account of how his faith sustained him before his release, and even enabled him to rise into a better self.
During that long "burial," he found by experience how much prayer helped him to remember that he was not alone. Now he recalled especially the counsel of his Middle East friend, long since dead, to "cling to the Mass." He marked a calendar on the wall, and each Sunday in particular he "attended" Mass. Fondly picturing himself back in his parish church and recalling as well as he could the Mass prayers of priest and faithful, he went through the whole rite with devotion. When his captors finally agreed to give him a bible, that helped his "Eucharistic celebration" even more. Of course, he could not receive communion, to his deep regret. (Ever since those days he has found it unbearable to think that some people in the world are totally deprived of the Bread of Life year after year). The wonderful feature of these spiritual Masses was that he could be taking part in one of them right under the unsuspecting eyes of his masked jailers. Prayer, he concluded, is "tyranny's enemy, the safeguard of its victim's mind and life."
Today's special preface fits in with this story when it says "Christ gives us the sacraments to lift us up to everlasting life." I am sure that since his release Geoffrey Jackson has often prayed in the spirit of today's final prayer: "Almighty Father, by this sacrifice may we always remain one with your Son, Jesus Christ, whose body and blood we share, for He is Lord for ever and ever."
May his experience help us, who have no problem at all about attending Mass every Sunday and even every day, to better appreciate the Mass as a prayer that will carry us through to "certainty and peace of heart."
-Father Robert F. McNamara
Q310: John always seems to weave his stories with a main plot and one or more subplots. Is there more going on here than the great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:1-45)?
That miracle in itself is a great theme for reflection, since it increases our faith and gives us all great hope for eternal life. But let’s look at another dimension of the story. You will notice that Jesus involves other people in his work. He tells them to “take away the stone”; “unbind him”; “let him go.” These are not simple requests; they are imperatives, commands that call for immediate action.
Now let’s take this to another level, which John wants us to do. What are the “stones” that become a barrier between me and Jesus, or between someone else and Jesus? Is it a lifestyle or habit that needs to change, or an addiction that needs attention? Barriers are freely chosen, and become obstacles to the life in the spirit that only Jesus can provide. What part do we play in “binding” others, thus preventing a loving relationship to occur? Perhaps we still hold grudges or grievances or resentments, and withhold forgiveness from another? We need to release those forms of anger, which bind both us and another. Jesus commands us to unbind those who are bound, and let them go. A helping hand, a loving word, a compassionate counseling can begin the process of “taking away the stone” from the life of one who needs to be set free.
Know Your Catechism! Jesus links faith in the resurrection to his very own person (CCC#994). St. Augustine taught that this one point of our Christian faith encounters more opposition than any other (CCC#996). Change can be brought about in many ways, including gestures of reconciliation and loving fraternal correction (CCC#1435) – a great way to prepare for the joy of Easter.
Q466: What a powerful miracle, the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11)! But how does it possibly relate to me today?
Let me suggest three things for you to look for in this wonderful story. First, Jesus was in command at all times. He knew Lazarus was about to die, when the sisters sent word to him that he was ill. He also knew what he intended to do, as we see from the text itself.
Secondly, although he had the power to do so, Jesus did not remove the stone from the grave, nor did he remove the body wrappings. Instead, he asks those present to do these things. Jesus always asks for our cooperation in his works of mercy – both before and after. In fact, it is our participation (or lack thereof) that determines whether mercy will be manifested or not.
Finally, and most important of all, Jesus gives us the promise of eternal life with him, if we only believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God. Such belief will gain us eternal life, and will enable us to “see the glory of God.” He provides a glimpse of that glory, as he raises Lazarus from the dead and restores him to life.
It is a great and wonderful paradox: “even if we die, we will live”! Only one who holds power over death can make such a promise! But clearly, part of the equation is our participation in the mission of Christ. He wants to use our hands and our hearts to transform the world, with his own divine power working in us through our love and compassion. We cannot stop with simple “belief”; our faith must lead us to action – works of charity and actions to achieve justice in the world and restore dignity to every single person from the womb to the tomb.
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Jesus’ prayer to his Father teaches us how to ask: with thanksgiving before the gift is given (CCC #2604), an attitude of confident trust that our Father hears all of our prayers. All of the dead will be raised on the last day, to either the resurrection of life or judgment (CCC #998).
