Our world is facing an unprecedented threat from the Coronavirus outbreak. We are facing our own mortality; we are witnessing how fragile we truly are. We are facing the possibility of death itself. We have been forced to let go of our own plans and instead trust in the Lord (Psalm 130: 5-6). It’s easy to hear frightening news and despair, and it’s natural to be afraid. But as Christians, we have hope in Christ. We can take one day at a time, doing the next right thing. We can be grateful for small things. We can rejoice in each present moment. We know that despair will crush us, but hope will lift us up again.
In today’s Gospel, Christ gave us the ultimate hope: He lifted Lazarus up from the grave. Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days; all hope seemed lost. But Jesus’s powerful voice cried out: “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). Lazarus heard His voice and rose.
Amen, amen, I say to you…the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out…”
John 5:25-29
His resurrection did not occur by some magical force. No, it was the power of the Holy Spirit in him that rose. God breathed this spirit of life into us when He created us: “then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
“I will put my spirit in you that you may live” (Ezekiel 37:14).
Later on Good Friday, all hope seemed lost again when Christ was crucified, died, and was buried. But the Christ-light shone brightest in this darkest time, for His disciples found the empty tomb and the burial cloths, which proved that “by God’s power Christ’s body had escaped the bonds of death and corruption” (CCC 657). He was lifted up again.
As Christians, we are called to be unafraid of our bodily death because we know that Christ “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” We know that He has already won this victory for us! “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26, 54-55). May we who believe God’s promise that we will rise again be hopeful above all.
Lord Jesus, fill us with Your hope. Help us to trust in You in our most difficult moments. Help us to live joyfully despite our current trials. Bless us with the grace to be the Christ-light for others in this dark time.