Fifth Sunday of Lent, The raising of Lazarus

By Msgr Michael de Verteuil

Chair, Liturgical Commission

As we continue our journey to Easter and to the renewal of our baptismal commitment, we have this Sunday the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus (Jn 11:1–45). ‘I am the resurrection and the life… whoever lives and believes in me will never die.’

Lazarus is raised from the tomb—a reminder to us that we are not meant for the tomb but for eternal life. Through the waters of Baptism we die and rise to new life with Christ (Rom 6:3–11).

At Easter those in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) programme will be baptised, and all who have already been baptised will renew our baptismal commitment and celebrate the victory of life in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, a victory in which we all share, a victory of which this Gospel of the raising of Lazarus from the tomb reminds us.

We thank God for the gift of our Baptism and repent of the ways we stain our baptismal garment. In the short time we have left in Lent, let us also look at the tombs we may be buried in now—anger, unforgiveness, sexual irresponsibility, greed, pride, selfishness, etc.—and hear the words of Jesus, “Come out!”

And may we repent and come to Easter filled with the life of Christ.