Fifth Sunday of Lent

We are now a week away from the beginning of Holy Week, the holiest week of the year. Two weeks away from the great Solemnity of Easter and the celebration of our Lord's glorious resurrection. The Year A gospel which you may hear if your parish is celebrating the Third Scrutiny for the Elect is from Saint John 11:1-45. That passage is the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The Year B gospel is also from Saint John 12:20-33. This passage is about the grain of wheat that falls to ground and dies and producese much fruit. Both gospels give us a glimpse of the new life that Jesus won for us by his death and resurrection. John, chapter 11, has always been one of my favorite passages because of the discourse between Jesus and Martha. Martha says to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus assures Martha that his brother will rise again and she says, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus responds, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha gives a resounding "YES," that she believes. Picture yourself in Martha's place and responding to Jesus. How would you respond? These readings give us hope and they encourage us to renew our faith. May our faith and belief always be strong as we trust in the risen Christ who is the resurrection and the life. Have a blessed weekend!!!