Homily for Lent 5, 29 March 2020

Lent 5, Year A, 29 March 2020

Ez 37:12-14; Rom 8:8-11; John 11

What a time we are living in. 

The Coronavirus is plaguing all of humanity, and there is no vaccine. 

There is fear and concern about our safety as societies. 

We are isolated from our family members and wider community.

The economy is plummeting and people’s businesses, jobs and incomes are being lost. 

And yet in the midst of this pandemic, the Church is calling us to reflect upon the new and risen life that Christ offers us in this life AS IT IS; even in this pandemic we are offered new life.

Life is filled with death. Not just mortal death from the Coronavirus and every other means of dying. But so many people live life like the walking dead: like Lazarus’ life in the tomb, like the dry bones of Ezekiel. 

Consumed with: fear, worry, anxiety, restlessness, bitterness, negativity, hatred, jealousy, etc. These are the things that separate us from God, that get in the way of Love and connection.

How many of you can relate to the dry bones of Ezekiel?

How many people feel like they are living in the tomb like Lazarus even in this life? Without meaning, without purpose, without colour, without joy, without love.

In the midst of our dead lives, our disconnected lives, Jesus comes to give us new and abundant life.

Jesus the Son of God has come not only to give us life without end. He has also come to give us abundant life IN THIS LIFE. In this crisis we can still know abundant life. 

[Make reference to the Guatemala team and the joy they experienced in people who have no material things, but faith in the living God.]

Christ can bring us out of the valley of dry bones.

Christ can bring us out of the tomb of death.

Christ can give us life and love IN ABUNDANCE.

To know Christ is to know the Life that is always New, always Becoming. 

And yet even now, in our Lenten pilgrimage…

- knowing the pain and suffering that Jesus will endure for our salvation, 

- knowing the pain and suffering that is so much a part of each of our lives,

- that we can still know Christ’s  abundant life,

-     that we don’t have to live in the spiritless and lifeless valley of dry bones or the darkness of the tomb of death.

In the connectedness and flow that is Christ, we are made free to live Christ’s life of Love in abundance and joy, even in this pandemic.

Jesus says “I am Resurrection and I am life”

“I came so that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”