A Snapshot of Salvation

Reflection of Fr. Earl Valdez for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Photo from The Review Room

Last week, I had the time to watch “Eulogy,” one of the episodes of the most recent season of the British TV series Black Mirror. Consistent with depicting stories on the effects of technology in our lives, the film was about the work of remembering and mourning for someone’s death; however, what was remarkable was that in trying to remember, the main character only had old photos, snapshots that contained so much memories and bore stories that needed telling. 

I’m sure that generations of people who live today have their own snapshots to keep and from which to tell stories, whether it comes in old printed photos or from our digital drives. And inasmuch as they tell our stories, today’s readings draw important snapshots on the relationship between God and humankind. 

Icon depicting the Raising of Lazarus. Photo from Pemptousia.

And the most significant among them was Our Lord’s raising of his friend Lazarus. This rather long reading narrated how Jesus went out of his way to visit a dead friend, to weep out of his own sadness, and to console the siblings of the deceased. However, in seeing their faith in Him and on what He willed to do, He entered the burial spot of Lazarus, only to bring Him back to life. 

If at all, this serves as a snapshot not so much of the Lord’s power over death, but of His willingness to accompany us in death in order to bring us to new life. This episode in the life of Our Lord and his disciples was only a preview, a memory that was meant to be kept to understand what will happen when Our Lord enters His Suffering, Death, and Resurrection. In his deep sorrow for Lazarus and the desire to comfort his friends, he was present in the place where Lazarus was buried; however, as he went out, Lazarus’ life was restored. Isn’t that a beautiful preview, a snapshot of what we will experience in the Easter Triduum? Like Lazarus, we inevitably face the reality of death, but this part of the life of Our Lord reminds us that he would take us out from death and let us enter into new life. 

However, snapshots also remind us that inasmuch as photos can be revived and enhanced, memories could be refreshed, they would not amount to the real thing. Lazarus was brought back to life, but not resurrected in the strictest sense of the word. This miraculous act of Jesus was not yet the great miracle that the Father performs in and through the Son. It was just a reminder that ultimately, the Lord does not just occupy our burial graves; rather, he faces great suffering and death that are part of our human lives. It was just a reminder that ultimately, the Lord does not just go back to life in the way that we know them; rather, He would enter into His resurrected glory, one that we will share with Him in the fullness of time. 

Photo from Realism Today

Brothers and sisters, this fifth Sunday of Lent presented us a snapshot of our destiny as one whole human race. It points to the reality that the Lord will enter the deepest and darkest parts of our humanity, only for us to share in His life. This is what we will celebrate next week, and this is what we are also reminded of as the heart of our faith. And this Mystery that the Lord enters becomes the means through which we interpret and understand our lives. 

In other words, these aren’t the only snapshots of God’s presence in our lives. Hopefully, in our prayer and meditation, and in the celebration of the sacraments, we see the Lord becoming part of our lives. He is the God who is always present in those dark and deep crises in our lives, as He was even in the petty problems that we have. And in facing these challenges, we are also brought to new life, given new opportunities, and granted new hopes and visions. But we know that all of those are previews, small details that make up the bigger picture of our destiny as His people, one in His death and in His resurrection. 

Artist Dianne Minnaar’s depiction of the Stations of the Cross. Photo from YMI

In these final days of Lent leading to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum, let us take a moment to look back at our snapshots with the Lord. We recall the moments that we have entered our own little deaths, but ones that were given new meaning when the Lord joined us in our suffering and challenges, only to lead us to new lives. And through the Holy Eucharist, where we receive Him and allow HIm to enter in our lives, may we always remember that these snapshots of our lives remind us of the reality of being saved and of being called to new life in and by Our Lord.