Lenten Reflection: "I Am the Resurrection and the Life"

This Sunday would be the last Sunday of Lent since it will be Passion Sunday next week. I think as we try to wrap up our Lenten discipline of prayer, fasting, and doing good, the readings of this Fifth Sunday of Lent give us hope and put us to a proper perspective. In the readings, the prophet Ezekiel comforts the exiled people by telling them that the Lord will put His Spirit in them and that they will live. St. Paul likewise exhorts the Romans that the Spirit of Jesus Christ will live forever in their hearts. Jesus in the Gospel raises back Lazarus to life. He comforts Martha and Mary by telling them that their brother will come back to life since HE is the Resurrection and the Life.

Many times in our lives we are beset by trials and temptations that seemingly bog us down. But we have in the readings of today our hope in the Promise of Yaweh: "I will open up your graves and give you My Spirit." No matter how deep and dark and cold our "graves" may be, God in His compassion and love will save us and set us free. We only have to cling to Jesus for He truly is our Resurrection and Life.

The invitation perhaps for us is to open our eyes more widely and to broaden our horizons: life does not end in the Cross of Calvary. Beyond the cross is the Empty Tomb and the promise of a New Dawn! Amen.