Time flies so fast. We have done the first scrutiny and the second scrutiny for our Elect. Back in the Philippines, we seldom have this rite because we don't have catechumens. We are blessed to have catechumens in our parishes. Let us join our catechumens and elect as they journey towards Easter.

Let us remember the Gospels and its messages. The story of the Samaritan woman and her encounter with Jesus. Jesus expresses his thirst..."Give me water to drink". Jesus is thirsting for her faith and belief...She was able to have it when she progressively encountered Jesus as "Sir,” "greater than Jacob", a "prophet", the Messiah, "the Savior of the world,” and "the Christ.” Because of her encounter with Jesus the Savior; she proclaimed him to her people. The faith that we have found is meant to be shared with others.

Then, last Sunday, we have heard the beautiful story of the man born blind. Jesus healed him by making a mud out from his saliva and smeared it on his eyes. Jesus told him to wash at the Pool of Siloam. It implies that healing, salvation, etc. demands our cooperation. The blind man encounter Jesus as the "light of the world" because He acknowledged and believed that Jesus is a prophet, the "Son of Man" and the Savior. He was physically blind but he was healed, whereas the Scribes and Pharisees remained blind because they refused to acknowledge and believe in Jesus. they are blinded by their arrogance and pride. Spiritual blindness is more dangerous than physical blindness.

Today we hear another beautiful story of the raising of Lazarus. If you are keen, we are encountering Jesus in a progressive way. Jesus is not only God sent as a prophet, as the light of the world, as the Savior of the world, but the Son of God who brings life. As he promised: "O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them. Then you shall know that I am the Lord."

Undoubtedly, the Lord loves his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus very much. Martha sent a word to him: "Master the one you love is ill." Jesus replied after hearing about it: "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Jesus will resuscitate his friend Lazarus before he wept of discouragement, of bitterness and of deeply being perturbed and troubled. The sign that he performed before Martha, Mary and the crowd is a prefiguration of his own resurrection, that He is the God of life.

This Gospel would like to inspire, convict and challenge us, first that we have to love our friends. Not only showing that we are there with them in times of happiness or sadness. But most of all, we are willing to give them our time. As the Little Prince says: "It is the time that you spend for the rose that makes the rose important." Give time to your family, friends and co-workers if they are significant with you. Time is the greatest gift that you can give because it will never come back to you.

Second, we have to change our understanding about death. Death for Jesus is just like sleeping. It is not the end of life. The church sees it as a bridge to another life, that is, our life with God. We often prepare more for our life here on earth...we have life insurance, health insurance etc. We never prepare for our life with God. Lent reminds us about death..."Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return." Thus, we have to think and reflect about our death every day and be converted to God. To remain in our sins without repentance would warrant our eternal death, whereas when we repent of our sins, it opens us to life.

Third, we have to know the difference between resuscitation and resurrection. Jesus resuscitated the life of Lazarus, the son of the widow of Naim, the daughter of Jairus, etc. All these people will die again, whereas Jesus resurrected from the dead because God raised him from the dead. His glorious body is a sign that He completely overcame death. The Church tried to describe and explain what is a resurrected body through Jesus' appearances story.

Nevertheless, we are inspired and convicted today to be like Christ as a "life-giving person". He was a life-giving person to Martha, and Mary and Lazarus.

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