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Gospel Reading for July 29, 2024 – John 11: 19-27
DOOMED!
Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
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Of course, Lazarus eventually died. All of us do, even if the medical sciences help extend some lives. What really matters is to be able to live forever after this temporary life on earth.
For those of us who do not believe in eternal life, and neither believe in retribution after this life, therefore living a life not caring for anyone but ourselves, what happens when we die and discover that there really is retribution? There would be no way of turning back. We would be DOOMED!
However, Jesus’ teachings about being prepared and all, are not meant to threaten us. His teachings, his way of life that he invites us to follow, is all about what living really means, or living according to the intention of our Creator. We are meant to live a life of happiness and peace, which even in the midst of trouble and turmoil caused by sin, we are able to achieve when we follow Jesus. And, it is this kind of life that will continue in eternity.
How blessed are we to believe!
“Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
