Today is the third and final scrutiny of the elect preparing for Easter baptism. Together with them, we examine our own lives in the light of the struggle between life and death, and the challenge to make Jesus’ victory over death our own.

Jesus is approaching the final journey to Jerusalem and his own death. The disciples seem quite hesitant to go with him, recognizing the danger (vv 8,12,16). Yet Jesus is intent on reaffirming life, and will show that death itself is the road to victory over death.

Jesus’ delay until Lazarus is dead emphasizes his power over death even when death has apparently won its victory. It is also paradoxical that Jesus’ own death is hastened by his bringing Lazarus back to life (vv 46-53; 12:9-11).

Although Jesus is completely in control of the situation, it is not easy. His emotions (v 33) may not be simply sympathy for Lazarus and his family, but more significantly, evidence that Jesus is also confronting the inevitability of his own death in much the same way that everyone must grapple with this ultimate reality. He does this again with greater immediacy and passion at Gethsemane.

Superficial human fascination might prompt us to ask, "What’s it like to die and come back?" This sort of question is simply beneath consideration by John in his Gospel. In the light of the fulfillment of our relationship with Christ, to make decisions on a shallow idea of "what it’s like" risks missing the whole point of "what it is." Christian life is not an "advance taste" of paradise, but rather a coming to grips with the meaning of life itself. Even in the grasp of death, Jesus is the source of life.

This brief passage concludes the famous vision of Ezekiel of the dry bones being covered again with flesh and restored to life (37:1-14). The prophet was writing during the Babylonian exile, and the vision refers to the restoration of the people in their own land (centered on Jerusalem) upon their return from captivity. Secondly, from our perspective, the whole event of return from exile and re-establishment is a prefigure of the resurrection.

The breathing of the spirit into the dead recalls the gift of life in creation (see Gn 2:7) and looks forward to the fullness of the Spirit poured out upon the Church following the resurrection of Jesus.

This is a song of hope that has traditionally been associated with the funeral liturgy and the Church’s prayer for the dead. Even in the midst of the "depths," faith still enables the believer to trust that God will fulfill the life that he has given. Response: "With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption."

The contrast between "flesh" and "spirit" is one of the key themes in Paul’s thought (Rom 7-8; Gal 5:13-26).

"Flesh" characterizes the path of the self-sufficient person who refuses to look beyond what it perceptible to the senses. "Living according to the flesh" means taking oneself alone as the basic principle and goal of existence. It means isolation from God and therefore from true reality.

"Spirit" is looking beyond oneself and being open to communion with God. "Living according to the spirit" means accepting the presence and direction of God’s Spirit, and therefore becoming one with true reality.

1. Put yourself in the place of the various characters in the Gospel story, and describe your feelings — the disciples, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, the bystanders, the enemies of Jesus.

2. Discuss in the light of your own experience the meaning of "resurrection" in Christian faith; also the words "flesh" and "spirit" as Paul uses them.