This week's reflection is by Clare Fodey (McManus) A Scottish RVM from Group 44 who served in Sierra Leone from 85-87 and was a member of the VMM Scotland staff.
We started Lent with a call on Ash Wednesday to “Repent and believe the Gospel.” Then the Sunday’s of Lent brought us Gospel stories of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, Prodigal Son, Woman at the Well, Healing of the blind man, and now to Lazarus. The raising of Lazarus always seem to me to be in a strange position, set as it is in these last two weeks of Lent, when we are journeying towards Easter. In many of the stories the faith of a main character seems to encourage Jesus to act, to forgive, to heal, to raise up.
But what is faith. An unthinking holding of a belief or a steadfastness to that belief along with seeking understanding.
Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves. (Pope John Paul 11. Fides et Ratio)
In the story of Lazarus, what is it that Jesus ask of Martha … an acknowledgement of her belief in Him. Pope Benedict XV1 in his message for Lent writes,
“We are faced with the ultimate mystery of our existence: ‘I am the resurrection and the life... Do you believe this?’ (John 11: 25-26). For the Christian community, it is the moment to place with sincerity - together with Martha - all of our hopes in Jesus of Nazareth: ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’
In what remains of Lent may we all seek to deepen the faith we hold and so like Martha can say, ‘Yes Lord, I believe,’ and so reach the joy of Easter and sing with the Exultet of the vigil.
Rejoice heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever! ………
May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
But what is faith. An unthinking holding of a belief or a steadfastness to that belief along with seeking understanding.
Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves. (Pope John Paul 11. Fides et Ratio)
In the story of Lazarus, what is it that Jesus ask of Martha … an acknowledgement of her belief in Him. Pope Benedict XV1 in his message for Lent writes,
“We are faced with the ultimate mystery of our existence: ‘I am the resurrection and the life... Do you believe this?’ (John 11: 25-26). For the Christian community, it is the moment to place with sincerity - together with Martha - all of our hopes in Jesus of Nazareth: ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’
In what remains of Lent may we all seek to deepen the faith we hold and so like Martha can say, ‘Yes Lord, I believe,’ and so reach the joy of Easter and sing with the Exultet of the vigil.
Rejoice heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever! ………
May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.