Ezek. 37:12-14; Ps. 130:1-8; Rom. 8:8-11; Jn. 11:1-45

Do you believe in Jesus?  Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead?  True faith determines how we live our life and how we live our life determines where we spend eternity.  Believers live with the end in mind knowing that what we do today matters for eternity.  The God who knows every hair of our head also knows our thoughts, feelings, and the intent of our will. 

Where does faith come from?  We claim to have faith but we also pray for an increase of faith from God.  By faith Abraham and Sarah conceived a child.  By faith David believed what the prophet Nathan revealed to him that “the son of David will live forever”.  By faith Joseph believed what the angel revealed to him and took Mary into his home as his wife.  Mary accepted what the angel revealed to her in faith.  In each of these situations there was a messenger from God with a revelation but they were also predisposed to faith because God had already acted in their lives, in their formation of faith.  There is the personal element to believe and to follow.  God comes calling and then it’s up to us to respond as Mary does “let it be done to me according to your will”. 

Jesus said to the woman with a hemorrhage as he does to Bartimaeus born blind and to the Samaritan leper and to the blind beggar “your faith has saved you”.  Clearly there is a personal element to faith in all these individuals who he not only healed but claimed to be saved.  These individuals may not have had any formation of faith but were ready to receive the grace of faith through their suffering.  Suffering opens the heart to receive the grace of God through his mercy and love.   

Jesus rises Lazarus from the dead to show us in him is the power of the resurrection and of eternal life.  Both Mary and Martha said to Jesus “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  They only knew of the resurrection to come “on the last day” but by now they believe in Jesus as Martha proclaims “you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”  Jesus brings us “the last day” already upon us in himself.  He is the resurrection and the life.  How are we living “the last day” in our lives when everything is being consummated in Jesus, love, mercy, justice

Do you believe in the indwelling Spirit of Christ?  His Spirit is the source of life and without it we suffer the mortal death of sin.  Christ comes into the heart of a believer.  He sends us the Holy Spirit to help us grow in sanctity with the “tool box” of gifts that we may bear fruit.  Faith leads to right action when we surrender to the will of God. 

Do you believe in the mercy of God?  God comes to save us with love and mercy.  The window of salvation is our time of repentance.  God is merciful but his mercy must be an act of grace we seek otherwise we are left to the consequences of our own will which can deny us heaven.  God seeks relationship with his people to grow in love together.  If we believe then let this Lenten season bring us closer to the God we trust in.