In his homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent, following the Gospel of John 11:1 - 45, Cardinal Tagle underlined the lesson that Jesus triumphed over death.
"On this 5th Sunday of Lent, all the readings especially the Gospel, they all point to the idea that Jesus will triumph over death."
Cardinal Tagle, while offering sympathy to those who have lost loved ones to the Coronavirus, reflected, "This illness is not to end in death but is for the glory of God."
"We see the rising number of dead people - and we are in solidarity with those who are grieving - but Jesus is inviting us to faith."
God Will Lead Them Home
Reflecting on the First Reading from Ezekiel 37:12-14, Cardinal Tagle pointed out:
"The dead cannot open their graves. The dead cannot bring themselves back to life."
He also likened quarantine or lockdown to death:
"The exile (mentioned in Ezekiel) ... is a form of death. Isolation from God, from the temple, from the land, from family - that is death. Isolation."
But, Cardinal Tagle emphasized, "God will open their graves. God will give them back the spirit of life ... God will lead them home."
Faith
Going back to Lazarus, Cardinal Tagle said that just like the way Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the tomb, God will give life.
"It is God who will restore us to life. What is needed is faith."
Cardinal Tagle noted that when Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, that place of isolation became a place of communion with God. He descended to the dead out of love, and that in turn restored life.
Death separates, the Cardinal-Prefect noted. But faith unites.
He noted that one good thing that has come out of the pandemic - being careful to express sympathy for those who have suffered - is that people are now turning to faith.
He then appealed to the young people: "Do not be ashamed of Jesus."
"Do not be ashamed of faith for you will see life and experience life through faith."
Eternal Life
Eternal life, Cardinal Tagle emphasized, is "to believe in the One sent by the Father."
Who gives life? God.
Who gives life? Jesus.
And how do we find life in the midst of signs of death? Who will open our eyes to see signs of life when there are so many signs of death? It is God.
And Jesus. But we need faith. *Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent
His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle
March 29, 2020
8AM Rome (2PM Manila)
Live from Pontificio Collegio Filippino, Rome
- Margaux Salcedo, DominusEst.PH
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