5th Sunday of Lent

03-22-2026Weekly ReflectionFr. Albert

In the Gospel passage, we encounter one of the most powerful and emotional moments in the ministry of Jesus Christ - the raising of Lazarus of Bethany. This story is not about a miracle; it is about faith, suffering, hope and the promise of resurrection. The story begins with sickness. Lazarus, the brother of Martha of Bethany and Mary of Bethany, becomes gravely ill. The sisters send word to Jesus saying, "Lord, the one you love is sick." Even those who are loved by Jesus experience suffering. Faith does not mean a life without pain, illness, loss, and sorrow, touch every human life.

Yet in the midst of suffering, Martha and Mary do something very important - they bring their problem to Jesus. Their first response is not despair, but trust. This teaches us that when difficulties arise, the most powerful thing we can do is turn toward Christ. When Jesus arrives, Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days. Martha goes out to meet Him and says: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

This statement carries both grief and faith. She believes in Jesus, yet she struggles with the reality of loss. Then Jesus speaks one of the most powerful declarations in all of Scripture: I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live." Jesus is not merely promising resurrection in the future - He Himself is the source of life. Faith in Christ is not simply believing in an idea; it is trusting in a living person who has power over death.

When Jesus sees Mary weeping and the crowd mourning, the Gospel records the shortest verse in Scripture: "Jesus wept" even though Jesus knows He will raise Lazarus, He still enters into the path of those who are grieving. This reveals something profound about God: God is not distant from human suffering. In the incarnation, God became human and experienced sorrow, loss and compassion. Jesus' tears show us that God's heart is moved by our pain. When we suffer, we do not suffer alone.

When Jesus arrives at the tomb, He commands: "Take away the stone." Martha protests because Lazarus has been dead for four days. The situation seems beyond hope. But before Jesus performs the miracle, the stone must be moved. Spiritually, this represents the obstacles that keep us trapped in our own tombs: fear, resentment, sin, despair, lack of faith. Sometimes we pray to God for changes in our lives, yet we hesitate to move the stone that blocks the miracle. God asks us to cooperate with His grace.

Then Jesus cries out in a loud voice: "Lazarus, come out" And the dead man emerges from the tomb, still wrapped in burial clothes. This moment foreshadows the ultimate victory of Christ over death in the Resurrection of Jesus. The raising of Lazarus is a sign pointing to the greater resurrection that will come through Christ. But notice something else: Lazarus comes out still bound. Jesus then commands the people: "Untie him and let him go." Even after being brought to life, Lazarus needs the support of others - friends, family, and the Church - to help us grow in freedom.

The raising of Lazarus reveals three great truths: Jesus shares in our suffering. Jesus has power over death. Jesus calls us from the tombs of our lives into new life. No matter what burdens we carry today, the voice of Christ continues to call us. Just as He called Lazarus from the grave, He calls each one of us to step out of darkness and walk in the light of life. Mary we hear His voice, trust His promise and live in the hope of the resurrection.