Reflection on 5th Sunday of Lent Year A, 2006

  

God is good all the time, my dear brothers and sisters.

Today, on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, to understand the Gospel more deeply, it helps to reflect on the past few Sundays. Two weeks ago, we heard about the woman at the well, where Jesus offered her living water—spiritual healing. Last Sunday, we encountered the man born blind, whom Jesus healed—physical healing. Today, in the raising of Lazarus, we see both: physical and spiritual restoration.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In medical terms, when someone’s life is restored through CPR, we call it resuscitation. But what Jesus does here goes beyond resuscitation—He restores life through divine power. This moment prepares us for something even greater: His own Resurrection.

There are many similarities between the death of Lazarus and the death of Jesus. As we approach Palm Sunday, we will see how Jesus is welcomed as King, then rejected, crucified, and after three days, raised from the dead. The disciples will later proclaim, “The Lord is risen,” but at this point, they do not fully understand. In raising Lazarus, Jesus is preparing them—and us—to believe in the power of the Resurrection.

But there is also a difference. When someone is resuscitated, life returns to the same mortal body. Lazarus comes back to his earthly life and will eventually die again. But when Jesus rises, He rises in a glorified body. That is why, after His Resurrection, He is able to enter rooms even when the doors are closed. His Resurrection is not a return to earthly life, but a transformation into eternal glory.

We are told that Jesus loved Lazarus and his family deeply. So a question arises: if Jesus loved them, why did He not come earlier to heal Lazarus? He could have prevented his death. But Jesus allows this moment so that people may come to believe that God has power even over death.

In the first reading, we hear God’s promise: “I will open your graves and give you my Spirit, and you shall live.” Resurrection is not easy to understand, and many struggle to believe it. That is why Jesus performs this powerful sign.

One of the most touching moments in today’s Gospel is that Jesus weeps. Why does He cry, when He knows He is about to raise Lazarus? It shows us something beautiful about God. God is not distant from us. When Mary and Martha are grieving, Jesus shares in their sorrow. He feels their pain.

This tells us that God understands everything we go through—our joys, our struggles, and our sorrows. He is a God who sympathizes with us. Even when He is about to bring joy, He first shares in human suffering.

Have you ever cried? When was the last time you cried? Sometimes we are taught not to cry, especially men. But it is human to cry, especially when we lose someone we love. Even Jesus wept. This shows us the depth of His love.

Then Jesus says, “Remove the stone.” This is very important. In another moment—at His own Resurrection—the stone is removed by divine power. But here, Jesus asks the people to remove the stone.

Why? Because there is also a stone in front of our hearts. The season of Lent invites us to remove that stone—the obstacles, the sins, the struggles that block us from experiencing God’s life within us.

We all have something in our lives that holds us back—a weakness, a habit, a “dark spot” we struggle to overcome. That is the stone in front of our hearts. God asks us to make the effort to remove it. When we take that step, God’s grace will help us to complete the work.

After Lazarus comes out of the tomb, Jesus says, “Untie him and let him go.” Lazarus is still bound in burial cloths, and others must help him to be freed.

This also speaks to our lives. Even after we begin to experience new life, we may still be bound by habits, fears, or sins. We must allow God—and sometimes others—to help us be truly free.

In contrast, when Jesus rises, the burial cloths are left behind. This shows complete victory over death. When we are truly transformed by God, the things that once bound us no longer have power over us.

My dear brothers and sisters, Lent is a time given to us to experience this transformation. Our life does not end here; we are called to eternal life, to share in God’s glory.

But if we want to experience that joy, we must be willing to remove the stone and allow ourselves to be unbound. We must take that first step.

Finally, we are invited to move from being like Martha to being like Mary. Martha is busy, worried, and restless. Mary sits quietly at the feet of the Lord. And Jesus says, “Mary has chosen the better part.”

We, too, need to spend time with the Lord. Only when we sit at His feet, in prayer and silence, can we truly experience His presence and His glory in our lives.

So today, as we take part in this Holy Eucharist, let us pray earnestly:

“Lord, grant me the grace to remove the stones in my life—everything that prevents me from experiencing You. Help me to be free from all that binds me, so that I may share in Your life.”

May we experience the glory of God in our lives.

Amen.