Cycle A - Year 1:

2 April 2017: Fifth Sunday of Lent

(Liturgical Color: Violet)

Gospel:Please Read John 11:1-45

Anew life in Christ!

The attempt to bring back the death penalty in our country is a step backward for humanity. At worst, it is an admission that society miserably failed in living its moral and religious values among its citizenry. And so death penalty seems to be the easy solution to society's criminality problem. But is it really? For unless we effectively address, and find solution, to the root causes of crimes, we would just be counting dead bodies seemingly legalized by government, and rising numbers of widows and orphans.

Today's Gospel speaks about death, but overcoming death with divine intervention. For God alone is the author of life, and only He can defeat death.

We hear about Jesus raising Lazarus from death. Recall that Lazarus was the brother of Martha and

Mary who were friends of Jesus. The sisters had sent word to Jesus that their brother was seriously ill. But instead of rushing to heal Lazarus, Jesus took His time and might have allowed Lazarus to die, so "that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

So when Jesus came to Judea, to the house of Martha and Mary, their brother Lazarus was dead and already buried for four days.

But Jesus orders the stone at Lazarus' tomb to be taken away, prays to the Father, and then calls out: "Lazarus, come out!" And immediately Lazarus came back to life again.

What is the significance of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? It is a miracle that baffles the mind.

Well, it is more than a miraculous event. It is a "sign" of God's promise to raise up all who died in Christ to everlasting life with Him in the heavenly kingdom. Through the raising of Lazarus Jesus showed the disciples and the world that He has power over death.

And yet, this miracle of a dead man raised to life again is nothing compared to our Lord's Resurrection. Lazarus came back to the same life with hardships and pains, and eventually, he died again.

But our Lord Jesus Christ rose to a glorious, new and everlasting life completely free from suffering. We, too, will be raised to a glorious, new and everlasting life from from suffering through our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Jesus said to Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (Jn 11:25-26)

This is our faith. We believe. And we profess this belief every time we pray "The Creed".

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!: