Deader than Dead
“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?” Jn 11:1-45
There was a couple who were both doctors. One day the elder of their two sons got very sick. Despite all their efforts to save the son, he died. Since then, the father refused to work at the hospital. The mother was at home hoping to see her son again even only in her dreams. News of their depression reached the parish priest who officiated their wedding and baptisms of the two sons. Thus, the priest visited them and reminded them of the gospel today. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live a new life even if he dies.”
Depression makes one seem dead – more dead even than the actual dead.
Why did Jesus delay in coming to Lazarus when He heard that the latter was sick? He waited for two days still and when He finally had arrived Lazarus’ body was already four days in the tomb. Is Lazarus really His close friend that He even cried upon arriving at the tomb? Had He left immediately, Lazarus would not have died as both sisters Martha and Mary had said. Lazarus was only two miles away.
When Jesus reminded Martha about the resurrection, He was talking about eternal life and not life on earth. Why then did He raise Lazarus back to the same mortal earthly life? Why not leave Lazarus in the afterlife, if it is much better?
Jesus answered all these questions when He said, “so that these people may believe that I am the He.” Despite His powerful words and incredible works, the Jews still doubted Jesus up to that time. In fact, as the apostles had warned Jesus, the Jews wanted to stone Him. Jesus had to do something.
When confronted with death we are grieved. Not only because we miss our beloved dead, but more so because we see death wrongly – as an end. Yes, while death ends our pleasurable life on earth, but it also starts our eternal bliss in heaven. In fact, death is so instantaneous that it is almost non-existent. Once dead, the person is immediately alive in the next.
We get used to earth that we forget heaven. Maybe it is best to listen to Don Bosco when he tells us “Walk with your feet on earth but with your eyes in heaven”.
Disclaimer: This section of the website is a personal creative writing of the author and does not necessarily reflect the official views, opinion, or policies of the Salesians of Don Bosco – Philippines South Province. For concerns on the content, style, and grammar of this piece, please contact us.
