Ezekiel 37:12-14
Romans 8:8-11
John 11:1-45
I am the Resurrection and the Life; Whoever
Believes in Me will Live (John 11:25-27)
As we continue to journey with our lord in
this Lenten season, this Sunday, we read one of the great stories in the
gospels that is the story of Lazarus: it is not a story of death, but it is a
story of God’s glory. Resurrection hope is the key theme of the Scripture
readings of the Fifth Sunday of Lent. We can see the gradual movement in
themes. If we have been very observant, we have moved from the thirst for
living water which was on the Third Sunday of Lent then the desire to be healed
of our spiritual blindness this was on the Fourth Sunday then in the fifth
Sunday we move to our ultimate desire to have a share in eternal life with the
risen Lord.
Lazarus come out; he tells you and me too to come
out!
I once visited St Catherine ward in Nsambya hospital
where I went to visit the mother of one of friars Fr. Amos CMF. When I entered,
I met a doctor who had worked in the emergency room for 12 years, this Dr. saw
the best and the worst side of the field of medicine as he shared with me. But
the most unforgettable memory it’s when they brought an accident patient who
seemed lifeless. Everyone had lost hope, all were weeping but this Dr. told me
that he was confident that the patient will come to normal. After receiving
some treatment for a period of time the patient responded positively to the
medicine. And his words came to be fulfilled.
It is amazing how this experience affirms
what the Bible teaches us about life beyond the grave. There will come a time
when the doctor can do no more for us, but somewhere on the other side, Christ
will say, “Patrick, come out!” This is a story that affirms resurrection.
Death and resurrection are the themes that
permeate today's Scripture lessons. In our first reading prophet Ezekiel one of the most important
prophets in Israel who lived during a time when many of the people of Jerusalem
were taken as prisoners and forced to live in exile in Babylon. The king and
Ezekiel were taken away too. Ezekiel helped the people follow God’s ways even
though they were far from home. Ezekiel bears witness to the renewal of the
dead Israel in process of preparation for her return to the Promised Land. He gives
his people in exile that Yahweh will one day bring them back and the live in
freedom while in the Promised Land. He assures the faithful that not even death
will stop Him from carrying out this promise.
In the second reading, Paul assures the Roman
Christians, who were facing a difficult moment of persecution and even put to
death. In the same way Paul tells us today that as we are all surrounded by a
culture of death, that the same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, who is
the third person of the Holy Trinity who is always present in our hearts and in
the Church, helping us to live like brothers and sisters and who dwells within
us will raise our mortal bodies to Life on the Last Day. Paul takes the Resurrection of Jesus as a
reality, the foundation of our Faith and the basement of our hope of having a share
in Jesus’ Resurrection.
In the Gospel, the story of raising Lazarus
is the last and highest and preeminent sign of Jesus, is the symbolic narrative
of Jesus’ victory over death at the cost of his own human life, and a sign
anticipating his Resurrection. The action of Jesus raising Lazarus from the
dead is yet another sign of God's covenant promise of life. In all that Jesus
does, we see the glory of God. In the raising of Lazarus, we have the most
spectacular manifestation of God's glory through Jesus Christ. Describing this
great miracle, the Church assures us that we, too, will be raised into eternal
life after our battle with sin and death in this world. Thus, resurrection hope is the central theme
of the Scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The reading assures us that our faith in
Jesus, who is “the Resurrection and the Life,” promises our participation in
resurrection and new life. The story
displays to us the divine power of Jesus who is the chosen Messiah and had
power over death.
The action of Jesus raising Lazarus from the
dead is yet another sign of God's covenant promise of life to us. In all that
Jesus does, we see the glory of God. In the raising of Lazarus, we have the
most spectacular manifestation of God's glory through Jesus Christ. We pray for
ta strong faith to always have hope for
eternal life.
Kalyango Patrick
III Year Theology
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