In the Gospel, Jesus is six days away from his death.
How timely it is, then, that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus extended a dinner invitation to thank him for all he’s done in their lives.
Remember, it was only a short while ago that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
***
But Mary, Martha, and Lazarus show their gratitude for Jesus in different ways.
Lazarus opens his home. Martha prepares and serves the meal. Mary spends all she has on a costly bottle of perfume, anointing Jesus’ feet with it.
Three different gestures with the same message: thank you.
***
There are many different ways we can show our gratitude, as well.
But how do we show our gratitude for the life of Jesus?
How do we show our gratitude for those working tirelessly to end the Coronavirus; for teachers who are trying their best to educate our children from home; for our jobs; for our families; for our homes; for the gift of life?
***
Holy Week teaches us many things. But the first lesson on Monday morning is this: See how immensely blessed you are.
Have you lost your job? Had trouble paying the bills? Learned something new about technology, including how to log-in to Zoom so your kids can go to school?
Life seemed normal this Lent.
Then everything changed.
As someone recently said, “This is the Lentiest Lent I’ve ever had! I’ve been stripped of so much – social interaction, physical touch, even the Eucharist.”
***
The same was true for Jesus.
Life seemed normal. Then he was stripped of everything – his friends, his dignity, even his life.
Today on Palm Sunday people are chanting “Hosanna!” (Hail the king!), laying palm branches at his feet while he processes into Jerusalem.
But by Friday they will be shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Cheering as he’s beaten with reeds, scourged, and nailed to a cross.
Things changed quickly for Jesus, too.
***
All of this leads me to question:
Can we ever consider life to be normal? Is it possible to let our guard down? Or do we always have to be prepared for disaster? Where’s the balance?
***
I don’t know.
But one thing’s for sure.
We have much less control over our lives than we want. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
Just think about the havoc one virus has wreaked on us.
Over one million people have already contracted it around the world; thousands have died; millions of Americans have lost their jobs; children are learning from home; the economy has tanked; and our future remains uncertain.
If the Coronavirus – and, more importantly, Holy Week – teach us anything it’s that life is unpredictable.
We live in a constant state of change.
***
But the one thing that should never change is our faith.
Throughout his life and ministry, Jesus shows us what it means to be faithful. From the age of twelve he’s found in the Temple doing, “his Father’s business.”
Even on the last night of his life, he cries out, “Father, not my will, but yours be done.”
Things changed quickly for Jesus. One day people wanted to crown him king. The next they wanted to crucify him.
But his trust in his Father never wavered.
***
That’s the challenge for us, too. To never lose our faith.
But on a deeper level, to never lose our trust in God.
Faith makes me believe that Jesus died under Pontius Pilate and rose again from the dead.
Trust makes me hope that Jesus is still active in my own life; that he hears my pleas for help.
And not only me, but every person who says his name, particularly those with Coronavirus.
***
Life is a gift. It’s beautiful.
But it’s also terribly fragile and unpredictable, which is why we need faith…and trust.
Our heavenly Father knows our needs, he hears our pleas for help, he sustains us with friends along the journey, and gives us our “daily bread.”
Then he promises life to come.
***
As Saint Teresa of Avila once wrote:
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things,
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
***
Life is beautiful and unpredictable. Things can change on a dime.
But whoever has God lacks nothing.
In these uncertain times, stay close to Jesus as he enters into Jerusalem. Cry out, “Hail the king! Hosanna in the highest!”
By now, I’m sure we’re all getting a little stir crazy.
How many of us, for example, have been tempted to get together with friends, breaking this uncomfortable rule of “social distancing”?
Meanwhile, we miss our creaturely comforts – stocked grocery stores, movie theaters, a day in the office, a haircut, sports, a trip to the spa, hugs from those we love.
We’ve all had to make these sacrifices for the common good; we cannot gather in groups… At least we’re not supposed to.
But human beings don’t let go of creaturely comforts that easily, whether it’s food, power, routine, or pleasure.
Times change, but people don’t.
***
In the Gospel, for example, we hear how deeply Jesus has shaken the religious authorities of his day.
After his three-year ministry, people are following him in droves. He’s taught them with authority, healed the sick, and even raised Lazarus from the dead.
Meanwhile, he’s openly criticized the Scribes and Pharisees, calling them “hypocrites” and a “brood of vipers.”
The balance of power is shifting quickly… and not in their direction.
As a result, the religious leaders band together, plotting to put Jesus to death.
***
But they need the help of Rome. Fortunately for them, the thinking inside the Roman Empire was similar – kill or be killed.
The Empire was so vast that they didn’t care who Jesus was. All that mattered was, “Is he disturbing the peace?”
If so, then, killing an innocent man became the price to pay for maintaining order.
And kill him they did. Jesus was killed, in some ways, out of convenience.
***
Again, times change but people don’t.
Think about how often people put their own individual interests over the common good.
Whether in person or on the news, we’ve all seen people who are not adhering to the social distance rule.
Like us, they’re getting stir crazy. But in choosing to meet up with their friends, they put our own lives at risk.
Then there’s panic buying. Think of how many people routinely purchase more than they need out of fear that shelves will be empty tomorrow.
Meanwhile, others can’t get the basic goods they need today.
Even in “ordinary time,” consider the way people drive. How often we’re cut off by someone who won’t let us merge, or someone who dangerously speeds by us on the Parkway.
***
So what’s the point?
As a society we’re far more connected than we realize. A decision that you make affects me – just as a decision that I make affects you.
Now’s the time when we all need to make sacrifices, because we can get through this crisis.
But only if we do it together.
Part of that means letting go of things we like temporarily so that we can regain what we love the most – being in the physical presence of one another.
Above all, in the presence of one another in church, where we worship God together and receive his very Self in the Eucharist.
