V Sunday of Lent (Lectionary cycle A)
Readings: Ezekiel 37: 12-14 / Psalm 130 / Romans 8: 8-11 / John 11: 1-45
Just before Spring Break, I gave a presentation for our “Breaking Bread” community night gathering. My topic was, “Lent: A Time for Growing in Closeness to Christ.” Several slides focused on the more dogmatic explanations of the fullness of Christ, especially as the Son of God.
We profess each Sunday in the Creed: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God …true God from true God.” We also profess that Jesus Christ, “by the power of the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”
However, the goal of my presentation was to help us grow closer to Christ by appreciating more his humanity. I realized that it was necessary to show students the “realness” of the humanity of Jesus. Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, I realize that such realness provides both physical and spiritual assurances of the Lord Jesus as a close and approachable healer and not a distant one.
Finding examples of the Lord’s humanity is not a complicated task. If you know where to look, his humanity comes through in simple, natural ways. We had such a demonstration of the Lord’s humanity in the Gospel reading back on the 2
nd Sunday of Lent when Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well. The Gospel account highlights clearly the human limitations he experienced: “Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.”
In today’s Gospel reading, we listen to the account of the resuscitation of Lazarus, when Jesus brought his dear friend back from death. It’s a resounding moment of the Son of God in action, the divinity of Jesus shining through convincingly.
We hear Jesus say, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Martha has her day and speaks for all time when she says firmly, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
Before thinking exclusively of the divinity of Jesus, let us focus on a brief, but profound, example of his humanity found in verse 35 of today’s reading: “And Jesus wept.” These three words speak loud and clear the truth of our Savior’s humanity.
In the midst of this manifestation of divine power, the humanity of Jesus emerges in a most tender and moving manner: human tears. God’s power over death made visible and true in Christ Jesus is joined by the power and depth of human grief.
A million words expressing the length and breadth of doctrine on Christ could not express as clearly the simple and eternal truth of his humanity as those three words reveal so eloquently.
Human beings cry, weep and experience the depths and pain of grief. In times of crisis as well as tranquility, real humans love, not in theory, but in reality, with laughter and tears.
Let that simple and undeniable truth of ourselves sink deeply into our souls and may we discover Christ in that movement. He who conquers death also felt the pain of it as he grieved the passing of a loved one.
In the presentation, my goal was to help others discover how we can draw closer to Christ in Lent by appreciating more his humanity. For us, it is a spiritual exercise, a matter of faith; for Jesus, it’s just a matter of living life to the full.
As we continue through Lent, let us be strengthened and consoled by the example of Jesus by choosing to love even at the risk of sadness and loss. May we recognize and value our human dignity and through it see Christ close to us and in those around us.