Sunday Reflection – 26 March 2023

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Also Read: Mass Readings for 26 March 2023 Homily for 26 March 2023 – Sunday

First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 12-14

Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. (12)

We read in the preceding verses of this passage, that the Lord sent his word to Ezekiel and the dry bones were given a body and breath. God calls upon the house of Israel and promises them new life! Now we are his people too, in Christ Jesus. Even though we may think it is finished, it is not over until GOD says so! He asked the prophet to call on the four winds and the multitude of dead came back to life! The wind is the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. We must call on the powerful giver of life in faith and we will be restored. 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 130: 1-8

Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! (2)

Amen!

Second Reading: Romans 8: 8-11

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. (9-11)

We must activate the spirit within us by constantly surrendering ourselves to him. Often the still small voice within is brushed aside, attributing different labels to it, like that of a gut feeling, a vibe, a sixth sense, et al. But since we are all born in the image and likeness of God, we will always have an inner compass that seeks to warn us at crucial times. To truly be guided by this wonderful counsellor, we must first and foremost develop a relationship with Our Father in heaven! We reach the Father through His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ! Then finding Christ is not difficult when we approach His Holy Mother Mary! Christ Jesus speaks plainly in the gospels, we must read them with faith daily and at an appointed alone time with him! He will speak and we will listen to his voice.

We pray that he opens the ears of our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Gospel: John 11: 1-45

Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (25, 26)

Jesus is saying these words to us today, but how strong is our faith? After witnessing the resurrection of Lazarus, many Jews believed in Christ, yet some others began to plot against him! Each one of us must reflect and realize where we stand.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!