Today our Hebrew Scripture is the end of the famous passage from Ezekiel 37 where dry bones come together. It is paired with John’s Gospel account of the raising of Lazarus. Ezekiel, however, was not prophesying about the resurrection of dead people. His image of newly inspirited “dry bones” referred to the nation of Israel which was in exile, in captivity in Babylon. It was this community that needed to rise again, to be restored. Isn’t that also true of our own nation?
Lazarus in our Gospel was also held captive by death, imprisoned in a tomb, but he was not the only one. His sisters Martha and Mary and their many friends were overwhelmed by grief, and that little community also needed to be restored. But first Jesus told Martha, “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.” She professed her belief in him, and only then did Jesus invite Lazarus to come out of his tomb.
Can you remember times and feelings when you “felt like dying” because something tragic was happening to you — whether physical or emotional or spiritual or mental? I can. Notice the journey we made to the “other side,” the new life or new path or new choice. The Lord God brings the best possible good from the tragic side of life and history and culture. When we open ourselves to the Lord through faith, the Lord who was there for Lazarus can enter our own suffering to bring us new life. “Rising” does not just happen at death!
This is the last of three weekly Gospels in which John the Evangelist uses literal events or happenings to teach us about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we are ready for Palm Sunday next week, and Holy Week which follows.
— Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia
The post Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 22, Rising: a Sunday Scriptures blog first appeared on Sisters of the Precious Blood.