Pastoral Messages

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

In this week's Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims, "I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus speaks these words in the context of mourning the death of Lazarus, revealing His power over death and His role as the source of life; that, through faith in Christ, death is not the end, but the beginning of the rest of our time with our God.

It calls us to trust in His divine plan, even amidst the suffering and uncertainty we experience in today's world. As Catholics, we are reminded that our belief in the resurrection is foundational; it is not merely a future hope but a present reality that shapes how we live our lives!

It encourages us to live out our faith joyfully by offering hope to those who are grieving and marginalized. In doing so, we become instruments of life, instruments for Jesus, shining a light in a world often overshadowed by despair. So, let us reflect further on our belief in the resurrection - how can we can better live our lives amidst the reality of the resurrection?

Continued blessings on your Lenten journey.

Much love,

~Deacon Jim

An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - April 6, 2025

“I Am The Resurrection And The Life”

Our readings for this Fifth Sunday of Lent focus our attention on the promise of new life in the resurrection of the body. It is a promise not to be taken lightly. It is a central point of our faith.

Our first reading (Ezekiel 37:12-14) is an excerpt from the prophet Ezekiel’s “vision of the valley of bones”, prophesied during the time of Judah’s exile in Babylon. It was a time when all hope seemed lost. In Ezekiel’s vision, God commanded that he prophesy of a time when Israel would be restored and the “dry bones” would be raised from their graves, and given flesh and sinew and breath. “Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people!“ We await that same promise in Jesus Christ.

In our Epistle reading (Romans 8:8-11), St. Paul draws a sharp contrast between those who live in Christ and those who are still "in the flesh". For those believers who are living "in the Spirit", they will know the resurrection through the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead.

In our Gospel reading (John 11:1-45), we hear the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. Jesus did this "so that the crowd may believe that you (the Father) sent me". He cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.” This was a foretaste of the bodily resurrection that will come to us all at the final judgement and similar to Paul’s words in our Epistle reading. This is not unlike our first reading from Ezekiel when the Lord will “open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people!“

This Sunday’s readings along with the previous two Sundays (The Woman at the Well and the Healing of the Man Born Blind) were traditionally used by the early Church as instruction and insight for catechumens in preparation for Baptism. May their reflection be a source of renewal of our own Baptism as our Catechumens prepare for their Baptism in Christ and we all prepare for the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040625-YearA.cfm

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