WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE

SS MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS

Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP 

Jer 13:1-11; Deut 32:18-21; Jn 11:19-27

Living in close relationship with God

The teaching that Yahweh gave to Jeremiah and the people of Judah using the linen loincloth the prophet purchased is quite illustrative and impressive at the same time. Yahweh used the linen loincloth around Jeremiah's waist to illustrate his relationship with the people of Judah. The first thing we get from the analogy is that the one who wears the loincloth decides to wear or not to wear it. Hence, the decision to wear a particular loincloth honours the loincloth, which is put into use and serves the purpose of its existence. The contrary decision is not to the benefit of the loincloth that is left unused and loses its value. This is the lesson Yahweh passed on to the people from this illustration given by Jeremiah’s treatment of his loincloth. “Thus says the Lord: In the same way I will spoil the arrogance of Judah and Jerusalem. These evil people who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the dictates of their own hard hearts, who have followed alien gods, and served them and worshipped them, let them become like this loincloth, good for nothing.” Yahweh’s choice of the House of Judah was a great honour to them; clinging to him, they would have been honoured by participating in his life and glory.

By Yahweh’s choice of them, he called them to be his glory among other people and nations. Just as the loincloth covers a man and shares in the life and glory of the man, showing that glory by clinging to him, the same way Judah was called do. “For just as loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I had intended the whole House of Judah to cling to me—it is the Lord who speaks—to be my people, my glory, my honour and my boast.” This analogy and the prophetic actions of Jeremiah have so much to teach us. By the assumption of human nature, the Son of God has employed our nature to play a similar role to that of the loincloth as in above. To accomplish this wonderful and glorious role, we must cling to God as the loincloth clings to a man’s waist. By the incarnation of the Eternal Word, the whole human race, and each human person, is again enabled to enter into a deep and intimate relationship with God. This intimate relationship is possible only through listening to the word of God and obeying the will of the Father. It is the Father’s will to glorify man in this way. To fail to listen and obey the word of God is to be useless for eternal life.

The Gospel gives us an example of what an intimate relationship with God implies for us. We see Jesus Christ in a close relationship to the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. This friendship brought salvation and the glory of God’s presence into their family. Our Lord's relationship with them made him help them in their need. Lazarus died and Jesus came to raise him from the dead. Because he was in the family, they experienced the power of resurrection. This is what intimacy with the word of God avails us; closeness of God’s providential love and care. “I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” When we receive the word and treasure it in our hearts, God wraps us around his waist as a loincloth, and we participate in the immortal life of God. His infinite glory swallows our finiteness. But to disobey is to remove ourselves from his company and providential influence, which causes us to waste away in our finitude as the loincloth Jeremiah stored away. The family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus listened to the teaching of Jesus Christ and entered into life; may their prayers aid us dedicate our hearts to God and our lives to doing his will.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, whose Son was pleased to be welcomed in St. Martha’s house as a guest, grant, we pray, that through her intercession, serving Christ faithfully in our brothers and sisters, we may merit to be received by you in the halls of heaven.