Jn 11: 1-45
This gospel tells the story of the resurrection of Lazarus, one of the most well-known miracles Jesus performed. In the passage, when talking to Martha, Lazarus’ sister, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” This is the cornerstone of Catholicism. Even though in this context Jesus is referring to Lazarus and a physical resurrection on Earth, Jesus is also alluding to the promise of the resurrection for all who believe in the Lord and follow His commands. This is the ultimate promise that God has made to us. The reason we follow His commands as well as possible is so we can experience His absolute love for us eternally in Heaven!
The first and second readings also proclaim the importance of the spirit over the body. When we die, all material things will no longer be important or of any use. All that remains is the spirit. And as St. Paul says to the Romans, “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.” In other words, if we live and believe in Jesus, we will never die.