The Real Death We Should Fear

The readings for this homily

Death appears to be the ultimate end for many, yet Jesus reveals a deeper truth that transforms our entire perspective on mortality. In the Gospel of John, we witness the raising of Lazarus, a powerful sign that death is not final for those who believe. Jesus declares Himself as the resurrection and the life, promising that whoever believes in Him will never truly die. This is not merely spiritual metaphor but eternal reality for the baptized Christian.

Yet Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, showing His profound compassion for human suffering. He understands our grief because He entered into it fully on the cross, carrying every cross we bear. The shortest verse in Scripture reveals the depth of Christ's humanity and His solidarity with those who mourn. However, the Lord weeps most deeply not over physical death, but over spiritual death—the loss of the soul through mortal sin.

At baptism, we were raised like Lazarus from spiritual death to new life in Christ. We became temples of God, filled with divine life. But when we commit grave sin with full knowledge and deliberate consent, we become spiritually dead again, like the dry bones Ezekiel saw in the field. The tragedy is not that we cannot return, but that we choose to remain bound by sin when Christ offers liberation.

The sacrament of Penance was instituted on Easter Sunday as a sign of this ongoing resurrection. Through confession, we are untied from the bonds of Satan, sin, and death. Saint Augustine taught that the recreation of our souls through redemption is more majestic than the creation of the universe itself. Every confession is a personal resurrection, a chance to rise again in the Spirit of God.

During Lent, the Church enters into a liturgical dying. The Alleluia is buried, flowers are removed, and statues are veiled. On Good Friday, even the Mass is taken from us. Yet from this complete emptiness, life shines through in Christ's resurrection. We must enter this dying to self through penance, prayer, fasting, and the sacraments to share in His glory.

The Catechism reminds us that the Church will enter the kingdom only through this final Passover, following her Lord in death and resurrection. Before Christ's second coming, the Church must pass through trials that will shake the faith of many. We see confusion and scattering in our time, yet we must not let our faith be shaken. Like Lazarus, even when all seems lost, there is always hope for resurrection.

Believe in Him who says, I am the resurrection and the life. Take advantage of the Eucharist to store up spiritual grace. If you are in mortal sin, go to the confessional and be resurrected. The Lord does not want to weep over the loss of your soul. He wants you to live forever.