Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent The Raising of Lazarus

Duccio di Buoninsegna,

The Raising of Lazarus (1310-1311)

In the raising of Lazarus, we meet a Jesus who is neither hurried nor distant. He enters fully into grief, confusion, and waiting. Before anything else, Jesus weeps. He stands beside those who are mourning and shares their sorrow. This reminds us that God does not rush past what is broken in our lives or in our relationships. He meets us there first, with presence and compassion.

When Jesus calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, He does not do everything alone. The community is asked to finish the work. “Untie him and let him go.” New life has begun, but reconciliation requires cooperation, patience, and care. The bindings must be loosened by human hands. In this moment, we see that restoration is not only God’s work, it is also our responsibility to one another.

This Gospel speaks soulfully to the life of the Church. There are places where relationships feel strained, where people feel written off or stuck, where fear or past hurt has hardened into distance. Polarization can bind us tightly, wrapping one another in labels, judgments, or silence. Jesus asks something different of us. He invites us to roll away stones, to loosen what binds, and to imagine a table where reconciliation is possible.

At this table, we are not gathered because everything is resolved, but because Christ has called us together. We come bearing wounds, differences, and unfinished stories. Yet we are invited to remain, to listen, and to participate in the slow work of unbinding that makes communion flourish.

Lent invites us to take this call seriously. Perhaps not with grand gestures but with small acts of courage and mercy. A listening ear. A softened word. A willingness to remain present. As we gather at the table, may we ask for the grace to be people who help unbind one another, so that the life Christ calls forth in us can truly be lived.

Faith Sharing Questions

In the story of Lazarus, Jesus calls one man from the tomb and He invites the community to help complete the work of restoration. As we reflect on this Gospel, we are asked not only where Christ is bringing life within us, but how we are being called to help unbind one another along the way.

1.Personal:  Is there something you may be holding onto that keeps you bound—an old hurt, a fear, or a story you tell yourself—and what would it mean to let that go?

2.Church: Have I ever felt unseen, unheard, or bound within the Church, and what helped or hindered my healing and reconciliation?

3.World: Jesus asks the community to help unbind Lazarus. What responsibility does that suggest I have towards others?

This Week’s PracticeReach out intentionally to someone you don’t normally connect with at church.