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_{Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 9, 2008}

       Al Dooley's son Mike, a proud 24-year-old Marine, was killed last year by a roadside bomb in Iraq.  Al got the news on a Friday evening at 5:15 P.M.  He had just returned home from work and was standing over a messy workbench in his garage, trying to decide what job to tackle before supper.

       Suddenly he heard his name.  He looked up and saw his wife and the pastor of his church standing in the doorway.  His jaw dropped.  "What's wrong?" he asked.  "Mike's been killed," his wife sobbed.  Immediately Al lost all contact with reality around him.  His mind flashed back across the years.

       First, he saw Mike as a six-year-old, playing Little League baseball.  Next, he saw Mike as captain of the high school’s football team.  Finally, he saw Mike standing at attention in his Marine dress uniform.  Mike was a son he was truly proud of.

       Al said later that the news of Mike’s death left him so shocked and so stunned that he was unable to speak to his wife or hold her in his arms.  All he could think of was Mike, lying cold, lifeless, and still.

       This touching story gives us an insight into how Jesus must have felt when he learned that Lazarus had died.  He too was shocked and stunned.  Describing his reaction to the news, the Bible says, "And Jesus wept."

       This is the shortest verse in the Bible.  It is just three words: "And Jesus wept."  Yet it describes one of the most moving scenes in the Gospel.  And the reason it is so moving is that it gives us an insight into the humanity of Jesus.  It gives us an insight into the vulnerability of Jesus.  We tend to forget that Jesus had a heart and loved as we do; had emotions and cried as we do; had a body and suffered as we do.

       Why is it so important to remember these things about Jesus?  Why is it so important to remember that Jesus loved as we do; that Jesus cried as we do; that Jesus suffered as we do?  It’s important because it makes it possible for us to relate to Jesus.  He was like us in all things but sin.

       Because Jesus loved, because he cried, because he suffered, he understands how we feel when we love, when we cry, when we suffer.  And just knowing that Jesus understands this, inspires us to carry on when life gets hard or when tragedy strikes.

       But today's Gospel shows us something even more important about Jesus.  In addition to showing Jesus weeping for Lazarus, it shows Jesus raising Lazarus to life.  In other words, in addition to showing us the humanity of Jesus it shows us the divinity of Jesus.  It shows us that Jesus was not only human, like us, but also the Son of God, totally unlike us.

       But, today’s Gospel goes even further.  It shows Jesus making a remarkable promise to us. He says, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live."  Jesus' gift to us is a permanent gift of eternal life.

       And so today's Gospel reading is a kind of capsule summary of the biblical message of salvation.  First, it tells us that Jesus was truly human.  He had emotions, just as we do.  He loved and cried, just as we do.  And because Jesus was truly human, we can relate to him and he can relate to us.  He knows how we feel when we suffer and cry.  And he will comfort and strengthen us in these moments.

       Second, it tells us that Jesus is also truly divine. He is God’s own Son.  And because of this, he possesses the power to do for us what no other person on earth can do.  If we believe, he can give us the gift of eternal life.  And so today's readings are a capsule summary of the biblical message of salvation:  The Son of God became one of us that he might share with us the life of God.

       Let us close by recalling Martha’s response to Jesus' question:  "Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?"   Martha responded, "Yes, Lord!  I do believe!"  So let us respond:

       Yes, Lord, we do believe that you are true God and true man.  Yes, Lord, we do believe that you became one of us that we might become one with you.  Yes, Lord, we do believe that in the world to come you will wipe away all tears – like those you shed for Lazarus.  Then there will be no more death, no more grief, and no more crying.  Yes, Lord!  We do believe!