ACC ~ John 11 v26a

WHY DO WE NOT TRUST CHRIST’S WORDS?

ROMANUS MELODUS:

Taking pity on the tears of Mary and Martha,

Thou hast said to them:

“He will be resurrected and he will rise up

Saying, ‘Thou art the Life and Resurrection.’”

In considering the tomb and those in the tomb, we weep,

But we should not; for we do not know whence they have come,

And where they are now, and who has them.

They have come from temporal life, released from its sorrows;

They are at peace, waiting for the receiving of divine light.[1]

The Lover of man has them in His charge, and He has divested them of their temporal clothing

In order that He may clothe them with an eternal body.

Why, then, do we weep in vain? Why do we not trust Christ, as He cries:

“He who believes on me shall not perish,

For even if he knows corruption, after that corruption,

He will be resurrected and he will rise up

Saying, ‘Thou art the Life and the Resurrection’“?

The man of faith always has power for whatever he wishes,

Since he possesses a faith which lends strength to all things;

From it, he gains power from Christ for whatever he asks.

This faith is a great possession; if a man have it, he has control of everything.

Mary and Martha had it and were renowned for it.

KONTAKION ON THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 14.1-2.[2]

BELIEVERS ARE ALWAYS ALIVE

METHODIUS Here he says believers live; they never die. Their bodies die but are brought back to life again. ON THE RESURRECTION 3.21.6. [1]

[1] AEG 4:170**; MOS 279.

FAITH IS THE LIFE OF THE SOUL

AUGUSTINE What does this mean? “He who believes in me, though he were dead.” Just as Lazarus is dead, “yet shall he live,” for he is not the God of the dead but of the living. Such was the answer he gave the Jews concerning their fathers, long ago dead, that is, concerning Abraham and Isaac and Jacob: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob: He is not the God of the dead but of the living. For all live unto him.” [1] Believe then, and though you were dead, yet shall you live; but if you do not believe, even while you are alive you are dead. Let us prove this also by the fact that if you do not believe, though you live you are dead. To one who was delaying to follow him and saying, “Let me first go and bury my father,” the Lord said, “Let the dead bury their dead. But come and follow me.” [2] There was there a dead man needing to be buried, there were there also dead people to bury the dead: the one was dead in the flesh, the others in soul. And how does death come to the soul? When faith is wanting. How does death come to the body? When the soul is wanting. For faith is the life of the soul. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.15. [3]

[1] Mt 22:32; Lk 20:37-38.

[2] ESUS IS INFORMED THAT LAZARUS IS SICK | JOHN 11:1-5

[3] NPNF 1 7:275*; CCL 36:427. See also Sermon 173 (WSA 3 5:254).

LIVING IN THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION

CYPRIAN The apostle Paul reproaches and rebukes those who show sorrow for those who have left this world. “I would not,” he says, “like you to be ignorant, my dear brothers and sisters, about those who are sleeping, so that you feel sorrow like those who have no hope. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then God will bring those who are asleep in Jesus with him.” [1] Those who show sorrow at the departure of their friends reveal their own lack of hope. But we who live by hope and believe in God and are convinced that Christ suffered for us and that he rose again, who remain with Christ and find our resurrection by him and in him, why should we either show reluctance when we ourselves have to depart or lament and grieve for others who depart as though they were dying forever? Christ himself, our Lord and God, tells us, “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me, though he should die, shall live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” If we believe in Christ, let us put faith in his words and promises. Since we shall not die once and for all, let us pass into Christ in joy and confidence since we shall live and reign with him forever. ON MORTALITY, 21. [2]

[1] 1 Thess 4:13-14.

[2] BTNL 122-23; CCL 3A:28.

THE GRACE OF THE GENERAL RESURRECTION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA If anyone notices that even the saints who have received promises of life die, this is no reason for concern, since it is what naturally happens. The display of the grace [of resurrection] has been reserved until the appointed time. This grace is powerful, not partially but effectually, in the case of all, even of those saints who have died in time past and are tasting death for a short time until the general resurrection. For then, together, all will enjoy the good things. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 7. [1]

[1] LF 48:118**.

[1]See Wis 4:7.

[2]KRBM 1:140-41.