Image: The Resurrection: The Reunion of Families, Stanley Spencer (1891–1959), Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection (Dundee City Council)
At the consummation of time and space, both those of us saved in Heaven and those of us damned to Hell will be reunited with our bodies. That was the theme of Bishop Earl Boyea’s homily upon the Fifth Sunday of Lent.
“At a time when we are so focused on the many dying of the coronavirus, it is good to recall what it is that we believe as Christians,” said Bishop Boyea at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, East Lansing, March 22.
“We believe in the eternal life of both soul and body because we believe that God is the creator of both and that both are good; God will not let anything that is good be lost.”
“We also believe this because Jesus taught it, telling us that God is the God of the living and not of the dead; we also believe this because we are linked to Christ. As he says in today’s gospel, I am the resurrection.”
“Finally, we believe this because Jesus himself was raised body and soul from the dead.”
Bishop Boyea’s comments were based upon the Gospel of the day which recalled the miracle of Christ restoring his deceased friend, Lazarus of Bethany, back to life (Jn. 11:1-45). The Bishop noted that a belief in the resurrection of the body is “a great source of difficulty for many”.
“Many will say they can buy the fact that we continue on spiritually in some manner after death; but that the body will share in eternal glory is a tough one for many,” he said.
Bishop Boyea suggested that the resurrection of Christ from the dead at Easter gave us the best insight to the reality of the matter, rather than the raising of Lazarus.
“We will not be like Lazarus in today’s gospel. Lazarus was going to die again,” said Bishop Boyea, “Rather, at the end time, our bodies will be spiritualized, transformed – much like a seed placed in the ground dies and then becomes a stalk of wheat, so will it be with us; the resurrected body will come from and have connections to our buried body; but it will be transformed.”
Concelebrating Holy Mass with Bishop Boyea were Father Gordon Reigle, Father Gary Koenigsknecht, and Father Matthew Bonk. Assisting them at the altar is Deacon Michael Cassar.
While the pews of St. Thomas were empty due to the temporary suspension of public Masses across the Diocese of Lansing, the Mass was broadcast to thousands via WLAJ Lansing TV53 and WBSF-TV Flint Channel 46. It was also carried on WJIM-AM 1240 Radio in Lansing and Good Shepherd Catholic Radio in Jackson as well as the Diocese of Lansing Facebook page and other social media outlets. Bishop Boyea’s homily is reproduced in full below:
* Bishop Earl Boyea, Homily, Fifth Sunday of Lent A 2020 Ez 37:12-14; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45
In our creed every Sunday, we say, “I believe in the Resurrection of the Body.” At a time when we are so focused on the many dying of the coronavirus, it is good to recall what it is that we believe as Christians. And, in fact, at the end of this Lenten Season we will be celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and our share in that resurrection. Today, we have just heard the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of St. John in which Jesus brings Lazarus back to life. Now what we believe as the resurrection of the body is not at all like what happened to Lazarus in today’s gospel. Lazarus was not resurrected but rather was brought back to earthly life.
First of all, we believe that our resurrection will be like Christ’s and that it will be the work of the three persons of the Blessed Trinity, as St. Paul says in his letter to the Romans today, “he who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also through his Spirit dwelling in you.” This action of the Trinity in our life affects our bodies as well as our souls.
We believe that at our death, our bodies and souls separate; the bodies decay in the ground and our souls go either to heaven, to purgatory, or to hell. We further believe that at the end of the world, our bodies will be transformed and rise from the earth and join our souls, so that we will be fully ourselves for all eternity.
We believe in the eternal life of both soul and body because we believe that God is the creator of both and that both are good; God will not let anything that is good be lost; we also believe this because Jesus taught it, telling us that God is the God of the living and not of the dead; we also believe this because we are linked to Christ. As he says in today’s gospel, I am the resurrection. We believe him as he says this and that we too will be raised up with him. Finally, we believe this because Jesus himself was raised body and soul from the dead.
But a lot of people do not believe this; this belief has been a great source of difficulty for many. Many will say they can buy the fact that we continue on spiritually in some manner after death; but that the body will share in eternal glory is a tough one for many.
The big question for many is how this could possibly happen. Clearly it will be like Christ’s own resurrection. It will be our own body; we will recognize ourselves and others; however, it will not be a return to earthly life with its limitations; we will not be like Lazarus in today’s gospel. Lazarus was going to die again. Rather, at the end time, our bodies will be spiritualized, transformed--much like a seed placed in the ground dies and then becomes a stalk of wheat, so will it be with us; the resurrected body will come from and have connections to our buried body; but it will be transformed.
In a way, we already share in this future resurrected life; every time we eat the body of the Lord and drink his blood, something we are all deeply missing, we share in the heavenly life of Jesus Christ; in a way we are already hidden in glory with Jesus; at the end of time, this reality shall appear in full glory. If this is true, then our bodies and our souls have a dignity right now, today, and we should do all that we do to show dignity and respect for our bodies and souls and for others’ bodies and souls, especially those of the poor and sick and needy. Christ’s words to the friends of Lazarus at the end of the gospel today are words to us: “Untie him and let him go free.” We should be helping to unbind and to free all those in need, since we already share in the resurrection of the dead, something we say we believe each and every Sunday. God bless you all.
For more, got to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 988-1004: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_P2G.HTM
For more on the Diocese of Lansing Outreach Mass go to: https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/outreach-mass