Fr. Martin Ali keke Ndemsou, sx
Reflection on the Mass readings of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A
As we draw near the celebration of the Paschal Mystery which is the death and the resurrection of Jesus, the Gospel of this 5th Sunday of Lent, year A, taken from the Gospel according to John, helps us to grasp Jesus’ divinity and humanity. Indeed, Jesus is true God and true man. This is our faith that we profess every Sunday when we use the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. In this gospel, weeping can be understood as one of the manifestations of Jesus’ humanity. As true man Jesus can express his feelings. That’s why, he can rejoice, cry, vex, weep etc. Thus we understand that our humanity is a blessing from God. During this difficult time of COVID-19, the world is scared and weeping. Jesus himself, as true man, wept for his friend Lazarus (cf. Preface of 5th Sunday of Lent). Humanity, regardless religious differences, is in the grave which is a concept used by the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading. The grave represents the place where there is no life; it represents the place where there is fear, where there is weeping. And the world is really weeping; it finds itself like in the grave because of the devastating corona virus. However, we should always weep with hope because God is always with us during our trials. He is always with us mostly in difficult time. As saint Paul tells us: “Hope does not disappoint” (Rm5:5). Our hope is that God will raise us from our grave which is corona virus. “You will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live” (Ez37:13-14a). This life-giving God concept continues in the Gospel when Jesus reveals his divinity to Martha, Mary, and all those who came to sympathize with them, by bringing Lazarus to life (cf. Preface of 5th Sunday of Lent). Thus, believing in Jesus is to have life. Let us allow Jesus to rescue us from the grave of corona virus by observing all the measures our authorities have put in place. May he (Jesus) grant us the grace of prudence! As true man, he can feel our sufferings to the point of weeping. This is compassion. And as true God, Jesus has the power to deliver us from death. True God and true man, Lord Jesus, deliver the world from corona virus!
Reflection on the Mass readings of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A
As we draw near the celebration of the Paschal Mystery which is the death and the resurrection of Jesus, the Gospel of this 5th Sunday of Lent, year A, taken from the Gospel according to John, helps us to grasp Jesus’ divinity and humanity. Indeed, Jesus is true God and true man. This is our faith that we profess every Sunday when we use the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. In this gospel, weeping can be understood as one of the manifestations of Jesus’ humanity. As true man Jesus can express his feelings. That’s why, he can rejoice, cry, vex, weep etc. Thus we understand that our humanity is a blessing from God. During this difficult time of COVID-19, the world is scared and weeping. Jesus himself, as true man, wept for his friend Lazarus (cf. Preface of 5th Sunday of Lent). Humanity, regardless religious differences, is in the grave which is a concept used by the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading. The grave represents the place where there is no life; it represents the place where there is fear, where there is weeping. And the world is really weeping; it finds itself like in the grave because of the devastating corona virus. However, we should always weep with hope because God is always with us during our trials. He is always with us mostly in difficult time. As saint Paul tells us: “Hope does not disappoint” (Rm5:5). Our hope is that God will raise us from our grave which is corona virus. “You will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live” (Ez37:13-14a). This life-giving God concept continues in the Gospel when Jesus reveals his divinity to Martha, Mary, and all those who came to sympathize with them, by bringing Lazarus to life (cf. Preface of 5th Sunday of Lent). Thus, believing in Jesus is to have life. Let us allow Jesus to rescue us from the grave of corona virus by observing all the measures our authorities have put in place. May he (Jesus) grant us the grace of prudence! As true man, he can feel our sufferings to the point of weeping. This is compassion. And as true God, Jesus has the power to deliver us from death. True God and true man, Lord Jesus, deliver the world from corona virus!