Sunday Reflections - FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT – YEAR A

 LIGHT FOR THE LIVING

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT – YEAR A

(Ezekiel 37:12–14; Romans 8:8–11; John 11:1–45)

My beloved in Christ,

In a quiet village in Ideato, Imo State, there lived a man called Onyeoma who was famous for one thing—he always doubted good news.

If you told him, “Rain is coming,” he would say, “Let me see the cloud first.”
If you said, “Your farm is yielding well,” he would reply, “Let me taste the yam first.”

One day, his son ran home shouting,
“Papa! Our lost goat has returned!”

Onyeoma folded his arms and said,
“Until that goat greets me personally, I will not believe.”

The entire compound burst into laughter.

An elder shook his head and said,
“My friend, if truth knocks on your door and you refuse to open, do not complain that you live in darkness.”

 

From Signs to Glory

That village humour reflects a deeper tragedy in today’s Gospel. Throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ, God had already been revealing His power through signs:

1. Water turned into wine (John 2:1–11)
2. Healing of the royal official’s son (John 4:46–54)
3. Healing at the pool (John 5:1–15)
4. Feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1–14)
5. Walking on water (John 6:16–21)
6. Healing of the man born blind (John 9:1–41)

Each sign pointed clearly to who Jesus is. Yet many still doubted.

Now comes the seventh sign—the raising of Lazarus—not just a miracle, but a revelation of divine authority over death itself.

 

“If You Had Been Here…”

When Jesus arrives, Lazarus has already died. Martha comes out to meet Him and says:

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
(John 11:21)

Even in her faith, there is limitation. She believes Jesus could have prevented death—but not that He could conquer it now.

Jesus responds with a declaration that shakes heaven and earth:

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”
(John 11:25)

 

The Tears of Christ

As Jesus approaches the tomb, something profound happens:

“Jesus wept.”
(John 11:35)

The people around Him interpret it simply:

“See how he loved him.”
(John 11:36)

Yes, Jesus loved Lazarus. But His tears go deeper.

He wept not only because of death—but because of unbelief. Those who had seen His works, those who should have known Him, still limited His power. Even His close friends struggled to fully trust Him.

Like Onyeoma in the village, they waited for more proof—even when proof was already standing before them.

 

“Come Out!” — The Voice of Life

Standing before the tomb, Jesus commands:

“Lazarus, come out!”
(John 11:43)

And the dead man walks out.

This is not just a miracle. It is a preview of resurrection, a declaration that death does not have the final word.

 

From Death to Life

The First Reading echoes this promise:

“I will open your graves and have you rise from them.”
(Ezekiel 37:12)

And Saint Paul explains the new reality:

“If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… he will give life to your mortal bodies.”
(Romans 8:11)

We are no longer people of the flesh. We are people of the Spirit—people of life.

 

Light for the Living Today

Back in Ideato, Onyeoma finally learned that constant doubt can make a man miss his own blessing.

The tragedy is not that God is absent. The tragedy is that man refuses to believe even when God is present.

 

Sunday Reflection

My beloved,
Is Jesus Christ your friend? Can He weep for you? If yes, then He will overcome all obstacles, dangers, trials, and even death—as in the case of Lazarus—to offer you resurrection and life, because He said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

Life of the flesh has no place in us because Christ is dwelling in us and has cleansed us of every sin by His resurrection. We now live in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

May God bless you as you remain a friend of Jesus Christ.

Happy Sunday.

Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ibearugbulem, C.S.Sp