Fifth Sunday of Lent | SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FROM LENT TOWARDS EASTER

On a reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ez 37: 12-14), the Lord God assures the people of Israel through the Prophet Ezekiel that He will gather the people of Israel after long years of death or enslavement. The Lord promises that He will settle the Israelites on the land He reserved for them to form one nation of Israel. This foretells the rebuilding not only of the nation of Israel but also foreshadows the resurrection of the Messiah - our Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise, St. Paul in
Roman 8:8-11 tells the listeners that if the Spirit of Christ dwells in each of them, the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead, will also raise them up on the last day.

As He nears the climax of His mission on earth, Jesus performs one of His greatest miracles by bringing to life His dear friend Lazarus. Here in the Gospel according to John (Jn 11:1-45), the promised resurrection is clearly demonstrated for all the Jews to witness. But what important lesson we should learn from this event is to be like Lazarus who loved Jesus so dearly that we hear the echo of the Words of the Lord through the Prophet Ezekiel in the first reading. St. Paul in the second reading further reminds us that we should live a life of righteousness in order for us to be fully resurrected with Christ.