Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC

Readings: (EZ 37:12-14, ROM 8:8-11, JN 11:1-45)
It is no exaggeration to say that the reality of suffering is a basic factor in the human experience today. Human life is often threatened by forces such as disease, violence, war, natural disasters etc. They often make us feel helpless, anxious, disheartened and insecure. When innocent persons suffer and become victims of unexpected disasters, we find ourselves very much disturbed. They even challenge our faith, principles in life and religious convictions. How are we to face the reality of suffering? Being a part of our experience in the actual world, can it contribute something positive to our lives? Today's scripture readings offer us some valuable insights into this problem. Our Lenten reflection could certainly help us in deepening our hope for building up the life in the post-war situation.

Prophet Ezekiel gives a very down-to-earth message in the First Reading today. The event of Babylonian exile appears as a turning point in the life of the people of God. They found themselves uprooted from their religious and cultural traditions based in Jerusalem. As the Psalmist presents in a poetic form, their nostalgic memories of the past life in Jerusalem made their exilic life more bitter and miserable: how can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land (Ps 137:4). It deeply challenged their faith and religious convictions. They experienced the exile as a non-life situation: bones in tombs.

It is to this people that the prophetic message of God's loving concern is addressed. It gives them strength and a vision of future: I will open your graves… put my Spirit in you and you shall live. It is a hope for a radical transformation of present life: the miserable situation in exile now becomes the ground for a joyful and fruitful new existence as they return home. The life-giving Spirit of God will touch their lives and empower them to begin a new life from the rich soil of exilic experience. God, who is ever faithful to the covenant with His people, will lead them back home to be a renewed and reinvigorated people.

Reality of suffering is deeply reflected in the messianic mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as illustrated well in the Gospel narratives. It is through the Passion culminating in the Resurrection, that Jesus fulfills the salvific mission. It is an act of profound love and commitment to bring humanity from the non-life situation of sin to the life giving situation of grace. Jesus' act of raising Lazarus back to life has a deep theological significance in this redemptive process willed by God the Father for the salvation of humanity. Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, continually gives us hope for new life in our experience of non-life in different situations.

The post-war situation in our country can be considered a non-life situation. The acute violence, tremendous loss of life and property shattered the hopes of the people. The divisions, mistrust, enmity and prejudices added to the misery of the situation. Now the war is over. But we have to go a long way to build up the nation, promoting love, fraternity, peace and justice which can foster the present day initiatives taken to develop the war torn areas.

St. Paul also presents a very relevant aspect of Christian discipleship in this regard. The Christian ideal of fullness of life is a struggle. He brings it out as a conflict between the spirit and the flesh. Flesh signifies the weak human nature. But when we are equipped with the grace of the Spirit of Christ, we are able to overcome all the obstacles which stand on our road towards the goal of fullness of life. It is struggle which guides us to renewal and growth. In this Lenten season, we can make positive steps to grow in the hope for new life.
Points for reflection:

In this post-war situation, what is your attitude as a Christian in promoting hope for renewed life in our land?

How can we encourage widows who have lost their husbands, children who have lost their parents, to build up life once again?