Do You Believe This?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel, Martha is grieving. Her brother Lazarus has died, and everything seems lost. When Jesus finally arrives, Martha says something many of us have probably felt at some point: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” She believes in Jesus, but she is also confused and hurting. Have you ever prayed and wondered why God did not answer the way you expected? If so, then you are standing exactly where Martha stood. The beautiful thing is that Jesus does not walk away from her pain. He enters into it.

Jesus tells Martha, “Your brother will rise.” Martha thinks He is talking about the resurrection at the end of time. She believes that God will raise the dead one day, and she is right. The Catholic Church teaches that at the end of time, Christ will raise all who have died, and those who have followed Him will share in eternal life. But Jesus wants Martha to understand something even greater. Eternal life is not only a future promise; it begins with a relationship with Him today.

Then Jesus makes one of the greatest statements in the entire Bible: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Notice that Jesus does not say, “I know the way to eternal life,” or “I can give you resurrection.” He says, “I am” the resurrection and the life. This is what makes Christianity different from every other religion. Christianity is not simply about following good teachings or living by moral rules. At its heart is a Person – Jesus Christ. We are saved not because we are good enough, but because we belong to Him. He is the source of life that even death cannot overcome.

Then Jesus asks Martha a question that echoes through every generation: “Do you believe this?” He does not ask, “Have you heard about Me?” He does not ask, “Do you know the prayers?” He asks about faith. In the Bible, faith is more than believing that God exists. Even the demons know God exists. Faith means trusting Jesus with your whole life. It means believing that He is who He says He is – the Son of God, our Saviour, and the Lord of life. Whether you have been Catholic for fifty years or you are just beginning to learn about Christianity, this question is personal. Jesus is asking each of us today: “Do you believe Me? Will you trust Me?”

Martha gives one of the most beautiful answers in Scripture: “Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God.” She does not understand everything that Jesus is about to do. She does not know that Lazarus will soon walk out of the tomb. Yet she chooses to trust before she sees the miracle. That is real faith. Often, we want God to prove Himself first and then we will believe. But Jesus invites us to trust Him first, knowing that He is always faithful. Faith does not remove every question, but it gives us someone to hold onto while we wait for the answers.

Today, Jesus asks each one of us the same question He asked Martha: “Do you believe this?” Our answer is not given only with our words but with our lives. Every time we forgive, every time we pray, every time we choose hope instead of despair, every time we come to Mass, we are saying, “Yes, Lord, I believe.” And when we stumble, He does not stop loving us. He continues to call us deeper into faith, because He is still the Resurrection and the Life, and everyone who believes in Him will never be abandoned.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life. When fear, doubt, or sorrow fill my heart, help me to trust in You. Give me the faith of Martha, who believed even before she understood. Teach me to place my life, my future, and my loved ones into Your hands. May I never forget that true life is found not in things that pass away, but in You alone. Help me to answer Your question every day with confidence: “Yes, Lord, I believe.” Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko