Update/reflection from Fr. Gratton (29 MAR 2020):

N.B. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered twice, today:
1) For the Intentions of all of our Parishioners
2) For the Intentions of all Members of the Knights of Columbus on this “Founders Day” (by KofC Council #10241 Bethel/Rochester)

Updates:
1) Thank you for all of you who are still following through with your weekly contribution to the church. It is a beautiful witness to your faith, and I am very humbled by your generosity. Many have taken advantage of Online Giving. Again, if you would like to contribute via this medium, just click the following link: https://www.ourladyvt.org/online-giving
2) There is a Blood Drive being held tomorrow (Monday, 30 March, 2020) at Our Lady of the Angels Parish Hall. As you can imagine, with schools being closed and all that is going on, many blood drives have been cancelled over the past month. Blood levels are extremely low. If you are able, please consider donating blood tomorrow between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM at OLA. Walk-ins are welcome!
3) Palms for Palm Sunday—more details will be given out during the week on how to get your palms.

--------------------------

Reflection on the daily Mass readings http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032920.cfm

Happy 5th Sunday of Lent, everyone!

We are steadily making our way through this beautiful season of renewal and hope. Today I only want to focus on the Gospel, and I want to do it in two different ways: one theological/historical and one more spiritual.

First, the theological/historical approach. We hear a somewhat familiar story in the Gospel of John, where Lazarus (the brother of Martha and Mary) passes away, and how Jesus responds to this death. There is so much theological depth to this reading, which is a hallmark of John the Evangelist. In it we see that Jesus purposefully stays away for two days when His friends are calling for Him to do something. It is an odd passage in the Gospel, for it says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was ill, He remained for two days in the place where He was” (John 11:5-6). How very bizarre. He loved them so much, so at a time of great need in their lives, He decided to stay where He was for two days before going to see them? When we look at the geography of it all, it becomes even more strange because we realize that Jesus is only a day’s journey away (at most!), and yet, He chooses to stay put for two whole days before going to his friends.

He finally arrives on the 4th day after Lazarus has died. Now this number 4 is significant. In the Jewish tradition, there is something called, “Shemira.” This tradition is when family members would guard the body of their deceased relative for three days before the burial. The practical reason for this was to protect the body from defilement (rodents, vengeful humans, etc.). The spiritual reason, however, for the “Shemira” was because many Jewish people believed the soul hovered over the body of the dead for three days before it fully left the person. Thus, the burial took place on the 4th day after the soul had officially left the body. It is on this 4th day when Jesus shows up onto the scene. Coincidence? I think not!

Jesus’ actions might seem strange at first. He clearly loved Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Scripture is very clear that they were close friends of His. Indeed, one of the only times Jesus is seen crying in the Gospel is when He is looking at the tomb in which Lazarus, His friend, is now buried. So, why the delay? Why didn’t He run to his friends? Even if He couldn’t make it time to see Lazarus before He died, why didn’t He try? Why didn’t He, at least, race to the town of Bethany to console Martha and Mary? The answer to all of these questions is found in that number 4.

Jesus knows that these Jewish people believe the body is completely dead—and that a soul has departed the body—only after the third day. He shows up on the 4th day precisely for this reason. He wants to make a point with this miracle that He is about to perform. He is spelling it out as clear as He possible can for all to see. He is even explaining His prayer to the Father, so that the crowd can understand what He is doing, where He is from, and from whom He derives all of His power (John 11:41-42). He wants everyone to know exactly what this miracle entails. Indeed, no naysaying bystander is going to be able to warp the facts of this miracle. No person three months after the miracle will be able to say, “oh, well, he performed the miracle only 10 hours after Lazarus died, so perhaps he wasn’t fully dead yet.” Every single person knows that 4 days has passed, and that Jesus is going to do the unimaginable. He is going to raise his friend from the dead with a simple word from the mouth, and He is going to do it after the soul had already officially left the body. Incredible!

Now for the spiritual side of this Gospel: Jesus says three things to Lazarus, which every single one of us should hear in our own hearts this day.

First, Jesus says, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). Put yourself in Lazarus’ shoes. You have been dead for four days. You smell. You are in the dark. You are wrapped like a mummy. There is a crowd outside, waiting to see the spectacle that is your life. And Jesus tells you to “come out!” Be honest with yourself, would you want to? I don’t know about you, but I think I would be afraid to come out. I would be afraid of the reaction of the crowd. I would not want the spotlight on me for this moment in my life. I would rather hide and wait to come out of the darkness at a more convenient time. This is the first lesson we must learn this day: we must come out of the dark, no matter how scary or embarrassing it might be. We trap ourselves in our own caves many times and, in a strange way, we get used to the dark. We get used to the pain. It almost becomes more comforting to hold on to the pain that we are so used to, then to risk leaving the tomb for something new. It takes real courage for Lazarus to step out of that cave, and it is the same for us. Jesus speaks those words to our hearts, today. He says, “(insert your name), come out!” Do not sit in the darkness forever. Leave the tomb, and see what Jesus can do.

Second, Jesus says, “Untie him…” (John 11:44). Again, Lazarus walks out of this cave with great courage, and is completely bound and shackled as any body prepared for Jewish burial would be. Jesus is clear that Lazarus is to be untied from these things that are holding him back. This is the next step in growing in love with Jesus, and letting His power work through us. We must be untied from the things that are holding us back. Once we have the courage to leave the darkness, we must let our Lord untie the things that bind us. What shackles are you carrying with you? Is it a sin that you have struggled with for some time? Is it anger toward a family member who has hurt you or betrayed you? Is it a lack of forgiveness for someone in your life? Is it pride or an unwillingness to ask for forgiveness? What are the chains that weigh upon you? What is holding you back? What has you tied up like a slave, making you wonder where do I move from here? Jesus is so clear, “untie him…”, He says. To each and every one of us, He says, “You do not need to let these chains hang on you forever. Be freed from the shackles of your life. Give your sins to me. Give your darkness to me. Let me take the burden from you. Be untied from the worries of this world. Give them to me.” Each of us needs to have the courage to let Jesus untie us from the knots of our lives.

Finally, Jesus says, “…and let him go” (John 11:44). This is the key to it all, and as I said in my reflection, yesterday, this is the key to Lent. We must be freed. We must be redeemed. The first step is to heed the voice of the Divine Healer when he says, “come out” of the darkness! We must follow His instruction when He says, “Untie him…” But then we must, must, MUST hear those beautiful words that tell us to be free. We do not need to sit in the darkness forever, nor do we need to live in the light with chains and shackles weighing us down for all eternity. Leave the darkness for good. Untie the weights of sin and shame that cling to all of us so easily. And be free. Yes, be free. Know that your God came to this earth for this precise reason, to redeem you, to free you. You do not need to be bound forever.

Hear the words He speaks to His close friend this day: “Come out! Untie him and let him go.” These words are for you and me. May we have the courage to leave the false security of the dark tombs of our lives. May we risk everything by giving those bands that tie us down over to Jesus. And may we finally experience the sweet taste of freedom.

Be free my sons and daughters in Christ. Cast your worries onto the God who loves you, and be free.

------------------------------------------

With all my love,

Fr. Gratton