I am continuing to write a message in the absence of Father Kuzma who will be returning home to Canada on April 3rd. Fr. Francis, the staff and I will make sure that he won’t have time to miss Florida too much. May Our Lord, Our Lady and the saints help us all acquire Lenten graces.
On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Prophet Ezekiel foretold the resurrection from the dead. Saint Paul exhorts us to renounce the flesh and to live in the Spirit in order to please God and to go to Heaven. Saint John’s Gospel contains the great story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead when the Lord Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
Lazarus was raised from the dead, but his resurrection was not like the one the Lord Jesus experienced on Easter Sunday. Saint Lazarus lived on and later in life died of natural causes; his soul went to Heaven and is awaiting the final Judgement when it will be reunited to his risen body by the Lord, who promised eternal salvation to those who had believed in Him and obeyed His will.
Lent is the right time to examine our conscience concerning every type of sin we commit, and to seek the mercy of God that was obtained for us during the Passion and Crucifixion of our Lord. Since our body is meant to be a temple of the Holy Spirit and will be raised from death at the Final Judgment, when our body and soul will be united eternally with God in Heaven or eternally away from God in Hell, we must take care about how well we live since we don’t know how much time we have left to be here on earth. Let us seek the purity of body and soul that is pleasing to God and not wait much longer to turn away from our sins. Let us live each day as it will be our last one before we die. Eternal happiness is our goal.
May God bless you always and Our Lady, Saint Joseph and the Saints and Angels help you carry your present and future crosses with faith, courage and peace.
Fr. Luc (Retired Priest)