(Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45)
In the first reading we hear the prophet Ezekiel tell the people that God says He will open our graves. He also says that we as a people will recognise that the LORD is at work when the graves are opened. Then in the Gospel, we hear that Jesus ordered the grave of Lazarus to be opened and He called Lazarus out from the grave he had occupied for four days. In the first reading from the Sacred Scriptures, which the Scribes and Pharisees insisted everyone had to live to; is the declaration of a sign to look out for; and in the Gospel the sign happening in front of their eyes. We hear that because of this miracle, many of the Jews believed in Jesus. But why not all of them?
I think the reason many of the Scribes and Pharisees refused to accept Jesus, was because they had head knowledge of God, but that knowledge failed to travel the enormous distance to their hearts. These men, no doubt very wise men, concerned themselves with following the rules, so much so, that the rules became more important to them than the Scriptures. They also had political and personal interests to look after. Time after time, Jesus called them out, He called them hypocrites, highlighting that they delighted in pointing the finger at other people, becoming accusers and judging people to different standards than they perhaps applied to themselves.
Are there areas of life where we are like this?
Are we quick to point out the faults of those we live with, ignoring that we probably do the exact same thing ourselves?
In this Gospel reading we hear how Jesus wept for his friend, in his life Jesus experienced most of the emotions we also experience. When Jesus was deeply moved, He was not only showing us how He felt, but He was moved by how upset Martha and Mary were at the loss of their brother. Jesus knew He was going to bring Lazarus back from the dead. He deliberately delayed his journey to demonstrate to us that we have to be patient. Things will happen in God’s time, not always when we want them to happen. In this passage of the Gospel, we see Jesus demonstrate human love and divine power. His compassion is striking, as He enhances the faith of those He encounters and reveals himself as the Lord of Life. The positioning of this Gospel in the 5th week of Lent acts as a compelling prologue to the Gospel we will hear in the next two weeks as the Church enters the Paschal Mystery which reveals Jesus as the conqueror of sin and death.[1]
This Gospel also has one of the most striking professions of faith which was ever spoken. When Martha uttered the words ‘Yes Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’ When Martha said these words, this was prior to her brother being raised from the dead. What faith and trust she demonstrated on that day.
There are times in our life when we feel distant from God, maybe even that He has abandoned us. This is not the case. We must keep faith in God, using the example of Martha. At what must have been one of the lowest times in her life, she still was able to say that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Her faith did not waver.
As we get closer to Holy Week and Easter, we still have time to reinforce our Lenten observances.
- Can we devote more time or improve the quality of our prayers?
- Can we fast from sin or from something which we really enjoy and dedicate that time to God?
- Are we able to share the gifts we have received from God with those in need?
Over the past three weeks we have been reminded of our Baptism: firstly the encounter of the Samaritan woman at the well, who was promised living water; which we know to be the Holy Spirit. Last week we heard of the man born blind; his eyes were opened by Jesus, the Light of Life; symbolising our faith which should never be hidden. This week we have Lazarus being raised from the dead; a reminder of the reward available to us if we are faithful to the promises made at our Baptism. While we have a three-year cycle, these readings are always used when the Scrutinies for adults who will be Baptised at easter take place. They are an examination for the Candidates prior to their Baptism and a preparation for all of us who are already Baptised and will renew our Baptismal promises at Easter.
I’ve mentioned before that our faith is not a passive faith, it is meant to be shared, we are called to live out our faith. Neither is it a private faith something just between me and God. As Christians we are called to accept the cross we have been allocated; we can’t pick or choose. We are called to still be faithful. This week we are reminded how faithful Martha was, she trusted in Jesus and was rewarded by an extraordinary event – her brother restored to life.
Further Reading
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Fifth Sunday of Lent
CCC 992-996: the progressive revelation of resurrection
CCC 549, 640, 646: raisings a messianic sign prefiguring Christ’s Resurrection
CCC 2603-2604: the prayer of Jesus before the raising of Lazarus
CCC 1002-1004: our present experience of resurrection
CCC 1402-1405, 1524: the Eucharist and the Resurrection
CCC 989-990: the resurrection of the body[2]
Please remember in your prayers
- All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
- Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
- Those attending the RCIA programmes especially those preparing for Sacraments this Easter.
- The young people preparing for Confirmation in our Pastoral Area.
- The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
- The continued success of the Pastoral Area Lent course on Prayer.
- The children who continue their Baptism Preparation sessions this week.
Deacon Tony
21st March 2026
[1] Robert Draper, Volume 19 Issue 1, The Tablet Publishing Company, London 2023]83.
[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments