< <  

Sunday, March 29, 2020

  > >

Fifth Sunday of Lent


Ezekiel 37:12-14
Romans 8:8-11
Psalm 130:1-8
John 11:1-45

View Readings
Similar Reflections

resurrections

"I am the Resurrection and the Life: whoever believes in Me, though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in Me will never die." —John 11:25-26

How strong is your faith that the Holy Spirit will raise your body from the dead on the last day? (Rm 8:11) Do you believe your spirit will be raised at your death to meet the Lord? Do you believe Jesus still raises people from the dead, as He raised Lazarus from the dead? (Jn 11:44; Mt 10:8) Do you believe Jesus' Resurrection can transform your life now?

Jesus' Resurrection is a promise of the resurrection of the bodies and spirits of all His disciples. Jesus continues to raise Lazaruses as proofs of His Resurrection and previews of ours. Jesus' past Resurrection and our future resurrection should overshadow our present circumstances. Risen life begins when we believe in the risen Lord, not when we die. All the resurrections go together. The Resurrection is past, present, and future. The Resurrection is physical and spiritual. The Resurrection is historical, personal, and eschatological.

We are a Resurrection people, or more precisely a resurrections-people. In these next two weeks, prepare to celebrate the Resurrection with a faith and joy that is unexplainable except for those who have met the risen Christ.

Prayer:  Father, increase my faith in Your risen Son so that I become a new person.

Promise:  "I will open your graves and have you rise from them." —Ez 37:12

Praise:  Praise the risen Jesus, Who "is the Reflection of the Father's glory, the exact Representation of the Father's being" (see Heb 1:3).

Reference:  (In order to help yourself in Developing a Deep, Personal Relationship with Jesus, order, listen to, or download our CD 52-1 or DVD 52 on our website.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 8, 2019

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.