Lust of the flesh, Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life

Catholic Homilies by Fr Linus Clovis

Quite some years ago, President, Vice President at that time George Bush, represented the US government at the funeral of the recently deceased former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved, clearly by the behaviour at the funeral of Brezhnev widow. During the whole ceremony, she didn’t say anything at all, she stood there completely motionless, until just before they were about to close the tomb, coffin. And then this old lady did, what probably was the greatest act of civil disobedience in the history of the world. She came over to his tomb, leant over and very clearly traced the sign of the cross on his chest. Here in the citadel of atheistic communistic power, she makes a gesture to say her husband was wrong. That this so-called utopia on Earth was wrong. She showed her belief in the real utopia, the place where our Lord Jesus Christ is the President, Paradise. Why? Well in His ministry Jesus raised from the dead the daughter Jairus, “talitha kum”, she comes back to life. He raised the son of the widow of Nain. And as we have heard today He raised Lazarus after being in the tomb four days. Witnessed by, I don’t know how many witnesses. This is the crowning miracle of Jesus’ ministry. The widow of Leonid Brezhnev, believed this and believed the words Jesus said to Martha, “I Am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Me, even if he dies he will live”. He finished by saying, “Do you believe this Martha?” Jesus Christ asks us the same question as He asked Martha. Do you believe I’m the resurrection and the life. Do you believe I can mend your wounds and brokenness? Do you believe? Jesus promises resurrection in the new world but also fullness of life in this world. He makes not just a promise about the future, but also an invitation here in the present to resurrect, change and convert our own lives and then the lives of those around us. The lives of those around us, we can touch and change. How? St. Paul made it very clear in the letter today. If the spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. The One who raised Him from the dead will give life to you also. Life through His spirit dwelling in you… For Fr. Nicholas’ complete homily please listen to the Audio.