Reflection for Sunday 22nd March, 2026

5th Sunday of Lent

I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:1-45)

This Sunday’s Gospel, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, is the third story from John’s Gospel, chosen to cast light on the meaning of baptism.
First, at the well in Samaria, Jesus offered a sinful woman a living water which would quench many forms of thirst: her lonely thirst for a lasting relationship, her thirst for mercy, and her confused soul’s thirst for worship.
Then, last Sunday, in the healing of a man born blind, Jesus was revealed as the light of the world. He gave physical light to a blind man and he also bestowed the spiritual sight of faith.
The raising of Lazarus tells us how the death and resurrection of Jesus is related to the new life of baptism.

“I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus was divine and human

John’s Gospel differs from the other three in his emphasis on the divinity of Christ as well as his humanity. The Preface in today’s Mass celebrates his humanity, his divinity, and his relationship with us this day.
“For as true man he wept for Lazarus his friend” (human feeling):
“and as eternal God raised him from the tomb” (divine action):
just as, taking pity on the human race, he leads us (present tense) by sacred mysteries to new life.”
What are the sacred mysteries leading to new life? The sacraments of initiation, namely baptism, confirmation and eucharist. Nowadays baptism is administered with a little water poured on the head. But in the early days, the catechumens, having completed the scrutinies, entered a pool of water, then emerged and put on a white garment as a symbol of new life. These actions recall sharing in the death and resurrection of Christ.

Dying and rising with Christ

In my own journey of life, the book that had most influence on me was Blessed Columba Marmion’s Christ, the Life of the Soul. He opened my mind with Saint Paul’s explanation of the birth of Christian life in baptism: entering the pool of water expressed dying with Christ, and emerging from the water expressed sharing in his resurrection. His key text was Romans 6:3-4. “When we were baptised into Christ Jesus we were baptised into his death. By our baptism into his death, we were buried with him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glorious power, we too should begin living a new life.” Until then I had been feeding on various devotions without much satisfaction until Marmion revealed the rhythm of Christian life as a constant dying and rising with Christ. “All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his suffering by reproducing the pattern of his death” (Phil 3:10).

Death and Rising of Lazarus

Let us return now to the story of Lazarus. Jesus had told the Apostles that the sickness of Lazarus would not end in death but in God’s glory. He waited until Lazarus was four days in the tomb before restoring him to life. In the medical practice of those days, after three days it was beyond doubt that the person had died. As Martha, a sister of Lazarus, said, “By now he will smell”! So, when it was beyond doubt that Lazarus was dead, Jesus brought him back to life. He prayed and called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, here! Come out!” And people were told to unbind him and set him free.

Resurrection is a present reality

Pope Francis, in The Joy of the Gospel, (Par 276) described how Christ’s resurrection is not just an event just of the past, but also belongs to today. “When all seems dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible source. Often it seems that God does not exist: all around we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty. But it is also true that, in the midst of darkness, something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit.” Such is the power of the One who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” After the consecration at Mass, we are asked to proclaim the mystery of Faith.
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

Prayer for catechumens today

Lord Jesus Christ, you commanded Lazarus to step forth alive from his tomb and by your own resurrection freed all people from death. We pray for your servants who eagerly approach the waters of new birth and hunger for the banquet of life.
Do not let the power of death hold them back, for, by their faith, they will share in the triumph of your resurrection, for you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.