SELECTED REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS ACROSS THE GROUPS
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A.
FIRST READING: Ezekiel 37:12-14
RESPONSORIAL PSALM:Psalm 130:1-2.3-4.5-7a.7b-8(R.7b)
SECOND READING: Romans 8:8-11
GOSPEL READING: John 11:1-45
GLORIA OBASOGIE
MY REFLECTION ON THE READINGS
First Reading
In the time of the prophet Ezekiel, the people of Israel were in great suffering during exile. They felt completely hopeless, as if they were already dead. But God spoke to them and promised to restore them, saying He would bring them out of their “graves” and give them new life through His Spirit. This was not just about returning home, it was a promise of deeper, new life.
Second Reading
This promise is fulfilled in the New Testament. Saint Paul explains that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us and gives us life. Without God, we are trapped in sin, but with His Spirit, we begin to live a new life.
The Gospel
In the Gospel, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Even after four days in the tomb, Jesus calls him out: “Come out!” This shows that nothing is impossible for God. He has power over death itself.
This message is not only about Lazarus, it is about us. We may not be physically dead, but we can experience other kinds of “death,” like sin, fear, sadness, loss of faith, or hopelessness. In all these situations, Jesus calls each of us personally: “Come out into life.”
But like Lazarus, we may still be “bound” by old habits, wounds, or sins. Jesus gives us new life, but we must continue to be freed and healed, especially through the Church and God’s grace.
The important question is: Do we believe this? Are we ready to let Jesus bring us out of whatever is holding us down?
As we draw closer to Easter, God is inviting us not just to change, but to truly live again:
Come out of sin into grace
Come out of fear into trust
Come out of darkness into light
God’s promise still stands: He will put His Spirit within us, and we shall live Amen.
UGWUOKE IFEYINWA TRICIA
Reflection
Never lose hope, even when things look impossible.
Trust that God can restore what has been broken.
Allow God’s Spirit to guide and renew your heart daily.
AKITI IGNATIUS JUDE
SHARING MY REFLECTION
It is true that the best teacher of The Scripture is Scriptures itself. It's fascinating how the readings of today clearly explains and align with one another.
In the Gospel, we see our Lord Jesus Christ raising Lazarus, not just as a miracle because the Israelites have seen or heard of figures like Elisha and Elijah who did the same thing. But in Jesus's case, the miracle was to address and help the unbelief of His kinsmen who were offended by His claim of being born of God. Note that Jesus addressed God as Father to their hearing while praying in front of the tomb. For a typical Jew, to say one is born of God (son of God) is to say the person is God, since God can only gives birth to his kind- God. This was a serious claim to make and it was one of the charges they later held against Him leading to his crucifixion. But to prove them wrong, God the Father answered his request after his affirmation to show that Christ is perfectly correct; He is born of God; fully God and fully man, having God as His Father (divinity) and Mary as His mother (humanity) . If He weren't truly divine, He would be a liar, but Scripture affirms He is without sin (Hebrews 4:15), so all He said is true.
This act also connects with what God had already promised through the prophets as seen in the first reading, that He would open graves and bring His people out. Christ did this physically to give them a glimpse and understanding that the promise of God was being fulfilled in their time. So the miracle was not just about bringing Lazarus back to life, but about revealing the core essence of his mission, which is to give life to what is dead (currently spiritually and eternally physically). Well, to their advantage, Jesus’ intentions paid off as many who witnessed it believed (John 11:45). That's the power of miracles. The devil also uses it to deceive people, so beware of the spirit behind every supernatural act.
In the second reading, Paul the Apostle explains a deep mystery: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He will give life to your mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11). This shows that the life we live now is not the ultimate life; the true life begins after this existence. Death comes first, then life. Just like planting a little seed in the fields, it dies first and produces a whole tree and new fruits after it's kind, that is LIFE. What guarantees that LIFE for us is the Spirit of God dwelling in us, and the evidence of that Spirit is righteousness not just moral living, but righteousness through faith in Christ, as seen in Romans 3:22.
We exist in two natures, the flesh and the spirit. Though baptism removes the consequences of original sin, the fleshly tendency remains weak and vulnerable (Romans 7:23). That is why we must continually strive, as pilgrims, to perfect holiness in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), so we do not fall into the snares of our fleshy desires that lead to death.
Also, in the readings especially the second reading, we see the deep unity between the Father, Son, and Spirit. Reading through its almost impossible to distinguish who is who, they work so closely that it is difficult to separate them (John 10:30). In the same way, our relationship with God should be so united that nothing, especially sin, separates us from God. Therefore, let us embrace the mission of Christ, believe in Him, and live by His Spirit, so that He who raised the dead will also give life to our bodies and call us to Himself after our current earthly existence. This we pray through Christ our Lord.Amen.
AUGUSTINE ASUQUO UDOFA
REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
“Jesus is the resurrection and the life”
We see this play out in the gospel. The life we live is Jesus and is in Jesus. We are all branches of the one and only tree - JESUS. Cut off from the tree we die off (John15:5). Another point we should take note in this gospel is that everything that happens is to the glory of God. Lazarus and his sisters were very close friends
of Jesus. Therefore there should have been nothing like sickness occurring in the family. But here, the worst, occurred- death. Making Martha to say to Jesus "though we are close to you, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.
Yes. It's true. Lazarus would not have died. But Lazarus died so that the glory of God (Jesus) may be revealed. This revealed glory of Jesus brought about the conversion of many as "many of the Jews who visited the family to sympathise with Mary and Martha believed in Jesus. That Jesus is still the same today.
Glory to Jesus.
IRENE TESA EGBUNIWE
OUR TRIALS ARE NOT USELESS
Since the year 2022 , it has been a difficult trial but through my journey and healing, my faith in God grew greatly even though sometimes I have questioned/still do question Him but I learnt that God is with us even when we are struggling and He seems silent/absent .
That He is with us in our weeping and rejoicing.
The whole trial has shaken, deepened my faith, and made me mature in my faith. That is actually my bigger testimony, not even the healing.
What the enemy thought would drive me away from God only drew me deeper to His side.
I know it can be really hard(sincerely it is ooo) but when we are going through hard times/trials and it seems we are alone, let us ask God how He wants to reveal His glory or let us just trust that He will.
HE IS A PROMISE KEEPER.
OKOLO SAMUELSWEET (KSM)
A seed dies before it lives
Why would Jesus allow Lazarus to die just to teach that he was a life giver?
It was just one single reason. Nothing is lost when given to Christ.
Handover that disturbing situation to Jesus today. That business cannot die, those your dreams, visions and purpose will live again, your health will revive and your Dominion restored.
Jesus the resurrection and life, help me rise and sustain your glory in me n'aha Jesus.. Amen.
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