Just A Thought Or Two . . .

Do We Really Believe That Jesus Christ Offers Everlasting Life?

She sat at the kitchen table concentrating on the paper in her tiny hands.  “Mom, I am going to help Jimmy with his math homework tonight.  In kindergarten we are learning all about letters and numbers.”  This precious little one sees letters and numbers and thinks she can solve her brother’s algebra homework.  She recognizes the pieces but doesn’t really see how they are related and can’t make sense of the whole.  Her amused brother appreciated her kind intentions and reassured her that some day she would understand how to do math that had both numbers and letters.

For many of us, death and resurrection concepts present a similar challenge.  We think we recognize some of the pieces but often there are parts we don’t understand.  Death tests our faith, but it is not yet our time to fully understand the entire picture.

Death is a part of life.  On some days life and death walk side-by-side. Daily the media assures us that death is a reality but the names and events may be accepted with a detached sense of awareness.

Most of us have become very skilled at leading whirlwind lives.  Multi-tasking becomes the norm.  The daily tasks that deplete our time and energy are just part of our increasingly busy lives.  We take all our activities for granted.  This is what life in 2014 demands.

But nothing stops the whirlwind faster than a diagnosis of a serious illness, an accident, or the death of someone we love.  Our jobs, the Lenten speaker, the basketball games, and our favorite TV shows take a back seat.   Life will never be the same.  We’re never really prepared.  The message of Lent asks us to put together a spiritual plan.

Sunday’s Scripture readings address death and resurrection issues.  In John’s Gospel, we learn that Jesus is the master of life and death as the story of his friend Lazarus unfolds.  Jesus offers words of truth and comfort when He says to Mary, the sister of Lazarus, “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.  Do you believe this?”

Martha replies, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  What would our response be?  Do we really believe that Jesus offers life everlasting?  If so, our faith provides a blueprint for our Lenten days when we trying to put all of the pieces together.  Jesus is the answer.  Jesus heals troubled hearts.  Jesus brings hope to those who suffer from doubts.

Lent will be over soon.  We’re just days away from Holy Week.  If Easter is to be more than colored eggs and chocolate bunnies, we must take this opportunity to reflect on Lent’s life and death issues.

As the Christian family prepares for the events of Holy Week, we can be grateful that we understand some of the pieces in the death and resurrection story.  Today we don’t need all the answers.  We can rest assured that God sees the whole picture.

On Wednesday, April 9, students in grades 2-8 will be invited to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Please come and pray with us: Holy Thursday, 2:00 p.m. “Remembering Jesus Christ”, Hosted by Grades 1 and 7, All Saints Catholic Church.