In today’s readings we find signs of hope for the Resurrection and a new world order which many Christians profess to believe on a daily basis.
From the prophet Ezekiel we hear the tale of his Vision of the Dry Bones (Ezek. 37:12-14). This passage was written during a time when the Judeans of the Southern Kingdom of Israel had been sent into exile by the mighty Babylonians. It was a time of grief and despair; the Temple had been besieged and obliterated and Jerusalem all but destroyed. Only poor peasants were left behind as a remnant to survive off a barren land.
Ezekiel is among the priestly class of Israelites who are sent into captivity (597 BC) and he uses this opportunity to send messages from God to the people. While many of his verses lay the blame for their predicament on the people as a punishment for crimes against the law of the LORD, he also offers hope of restoration for a renewed Jerusalem, Temple and united nation of Israel.
Today’s First Reading is one such example of this promise as Ezekiel proclaims, “Thus says the LORD God: ‘Look! I am going to open your graves; I will make you come up out of your graves, my people, and bring you back to the land of Israel.’” (Ezek. 37:12). Their misery and hopelessness like the grief of death will be turned into joy and dancing as they are returned to their own land.
With time and an increased belief by some Jews in the resurrection of the dead as found in the later books of the Old Testament like Daniel (Dan. 12:2) and 2Maccabees (2Macc. 7), the words of Ezekiel began to be interpreted as a vision of the resurrection of the dead. It easy to see the metaphor further down in the passage as God offers the same Spirit which was breathed into Adam to the dry bones which then come together joined bone to bone and covered with flesh as the slain are brought to life. (Ezek. 37:5-9).
Yet the final verses of the passage reiterate its historical meaning. It does not originate as an image of the resurrection but simply maintains, “Thus says the LORD God: ‘These bones are the whole house of Israel! They are saying, our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off. I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life, and I will settle you in your land.’” (Ezek. 37:11,14a).
In the end they are said to be restored to the land of Israel, not resurrected from the dead. This will be the case when the Persian king, Cyrus the Great releases the people from exile after his conquest of the Babylonians (538 BC).
In today’s Gospel we see a similar situation in the story of the Raising of Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:1-45). Knowing that his life is in danger, Jesus hesitates to travel to the aid of his beloved Lazarus in Bethany because of its proximity to Jerusalem. But more so, Jesus explains to his disciples his purpose for waiting, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe.” (Jn. 11:14-15).
When Jesus arrives in Bethany, he asks those attending to the sisters Martha and Mary, ““Where have you laid him?” (Jn. 11:34a). And later at the tomb, after a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father, commands in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (Jn. 11:41,43).
At the words of Jesus Lazarus is resuscitated by God and restored to his former life. Although we say he has been “resurrected from the dead,” like the Israelites who are returned to the land of Israel after their exile, Lazarus will once again be subjected to death at the end of his earthly life.
What then is the purpose of these stories of restoration as they pertain to the Resurrection? An examination of the literary tactics of the author of John’s Gospel would explain that these stories serve as “signs.” In the words of Jesus, they are signs which point to the “glory of God” (Jn. 11:4) and God’s love for humanity, both Jew and Gentile alike.
Later in the chapter, the high priest Caiaphas will unwittingly profess this love saying, “Jesus is going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.” (Jn. 11:51b-52). This indicates that the crucifixion and glorification of Jesus will be the restoration of all people at the time of the final Resurrection.
The same author of John, or perhaps a different John, offers a description of what this event will look like in the Book of Revelation: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.’”
The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.’” (Rev. 21:1-5). The Resurrection is a restoration of the Kingdom brought by Jesus once and for all.
