Lazarus....COME FORTH!

Sunday's Gospel was the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. For his homily at the 10:30 mass (and Saturday night's) Father Watters gave a reflection on the Gospel that he had given to the Students at Holy Trinity High School when he went there for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When I heard it at mass, I thought it was worthy to be published here--and it makes a great segue between last week's topic on sin, and this week's topic on conversion.

John 11:1-45

How do some of your decisions keep you in the tomb? Do you refuse to respect other people? The earth? The earth's resources? Do you litter and show a poor interest in taking care of the environment? Do you refuse to respect yourself--in ways of physical, emotional, and spiritual health? Do you favour materials over people?

How big is the "stone" that keeps you in your tomb? What does the stone symbolise for you: Pride? Arrogance? Stubbornness? Selfishness? Prejudice? Materialism? Do you doubt God loves you because of the "stone" between you and God? Do you doubt the power of God's love to transform you or the situation? What is it about God and His Love that keeps you away from Him? Why?

Are you frightened of the "stench" that dealing with your mistakes will cause? Are you scared of other people's reactions to your mistakes? Do you doubt other people can still love you in spite and despite your unhealthy decisions in the past and present?

In what ways do you have to be unbound from your fears? What is keeping you from letting go, from making the leap of faith into God's Love?

I hope that we all can have the courage to respond to Jesus' call, to come forth out of our sins and fear and into the light of God's marvelous love and forgiveness!
God bless
Gregory