Lent: The Resurrection and the Life

The past four weeks, I have focused this column on the Sunday readings for Lent. These readings are especially rich in the way they present the meaning of Lent for our lives. The first week of Lent focused our attention on the great themes of Temptation, Sin, and Redemption. The second week highlighted the transfiguration of Jesus, which foreshadowed Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection as well. Then on the third and fourth Sundays of Lent, we heard the stories of the Woman at the Well and the Healing of the Man Born Blind, which pointed to Jesus as the source of living water, the Holy Spirit, and the Light of the World.

On this fifth Sunday of Lent, these readings come to a climax with the story of the Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and Jesus’ revelation that he is the resurrection and the life so that if we believe in him we will live, even if we die. The other readings of today’s Liturgy also focus on the theme of resurrection. In the first from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, God promises that he will open the graves of the dead and put his Spirit in them so that they may live. And in today’s second reading from the Letter to the Romans, St. Paul assures us that if the Spirit of God dwells in us, God will raise us from the dead just as he raised his own Son, Jesus Christ from the dead.

This year’s Lenten readings have taught us many lessons that can be summarized in this way: Jesus Christ is the pattern of our lives, what has happened to him will happen to us if we are faithful to him. Jesus Christ is the obedient Son of God who overcomes temptation by trusting in the power of God to save him (Lent 1). Jesus Christ is transformed by the glory of God through his suffering (Lent 2). Jesus Christ is the source of God’s living water (Lent 3). Jesus Christ enlightens us to see God (Lent 4). Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life (Lent 5). If we entrust ourselves to the one who entrusted himself to God, we will be filled with God’s life-giving Spirit, and we will by enlightened by God’s grace. If we entrust ourselves to Jesus who is the resurrection and the life, we will enjoy the resurrection life that he already enjoys.

My next column and my presentation in the Parish Center (click here to watch the video), focus on the Sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.

Because Holy Week is the most important week of the Liturgical Year, it is important for us to prepare ourselves to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Easter by taking advantage of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation and participating in the rich liturgy of Holy Week. Although Holy Week is still a week away, I am listing our schedule for you.