Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is the fifth and last week of our series on Christian Atheists where we have been looking at the dichotomy of our lives in believing in one way and living in another. Hopefully this series has helped us to bridge that gap in some way. We spoke about the need to prayer for some time each day rather than worrying, and last week our need to know Jesus Christ personally and not just what we heard about him. This week we look at the tendency we have to believe and often think we cannot change or repent from our bad habits.
Often the Catholic atheist plays the victim and thinks, I cannot change. However, Christianity is a Good News and it gives us the possibility of not being afraid, and frees us from slavery to sins and bad habits that take away our peace. We all have the experience of trying to lose weight, or stopping a bad habit, or overcoming anger or jealousy or trying to forgive and it is important to not just say, that is the way I am. No, the truth is that it is sin living in me.
It is always amazing to me how the people who attend the catechesis (the talks we do in the Fall) always change, improve, see God in their lives, and turn to him without anybody telling them to do so. A relationship with Jesus Christ changes us. We heard on Ash Wednesday, repent and believe in the Gospel. Repentance is more than saying, I am sorry; it means also to live in a different way.
God has such an immense idea of who you should as a father or mother, or sibling, or priest, or student. Often people have given up trying and this is a mistake. The gospel this week (John 11: 1-45) will help you to increase your confidence in the power of God to change you. When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he said, “This illness is not unto death, but so that the Son of God maybe glorified in it.” God was glorified in the rising of Lazarus and it was also the miracle that sent Christ to his death. God was glorified in the dying of Jesus also; he gave his life for us and rose for us! He conquered death so you can also rise, especially when you feel alone or overwhelmed or sad.
What Jesus says about Lazarus applies to you also: the difficulty that you face in changing does not need to end in failure; it will not kill you. God can be glorified in it when you change your ways. God can be glorified in it, not us. Imagine if every group in the parish acted in this way, or every family; what a change we would see.
When a marriage is saved, or an addict is healed, or someone gets out of debt it is enough for someone to think: God exists, that couple was on the brink of divorce, and now they are very happy! Jesus does not go right away to heal Lazarus; maybe he waits to convince people of the seriousness of the problem; he does the same with us.
Lazarus is the figure of a modern man or woman tied up with their bad habits, in a cave by themselves, with a weight on their chest, and a bad smell in the air. This is you and me. God comes to free us from this. Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life,” which means I, Jesus Christ, can change you. You cannot do it. The same power that raises Lazarus is alive in you, says St. Paul in his letter to the Romans (8: 8-11). It is the same power that makes it possible for you to call God, your abba, your daddy!
If you find yourself hopeless, afraid, poor, you can be raised up when you believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus says to Lazarus: Rise and come forth! What does this mean? Believe in this word that comes from God, and come forth, confess what God has done for you. By proclaiming to those around you what God has done for you makes his spirit come alive in you.
I would like to suggest three things that can help us this week. First, acknowledge your bad habits, your sins. Speak about them and don’t try to hide them or make believe they don’t exist. Confess them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Second, invite God into your life to help you. The prayer that Jesus makes in this gospel is very simple, he says, “Father, I know that you always hear me, and I say this that they may believe in you.” Third, seek the support of a Christian community. To change we need the help of others who are struggling to live a Christian life. Today one cannot be a Christian on his/her own; we need support. God knows your needs and is ready to help you; invite him in.