Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62

John 8:1-11

GOD SAVES

Dear Brothers and sisters in christ jesus, today’s readings are very familiar and powerful as they illustrate perfectly God’s intervention to save his loved ones.

First Reading:

In the first reading, we read the Story of Susanna, who was falsely accused of adultery by two elders and sentenced to death according to the law, however God intervened through a young boy Daniel defended her and saved.

She was innocent and was unjustly accused. No matter how she tried to defend her integrity and faithfulness, the community believed the elders and decided to stone her to death.

All that was left was to leave the situation to God and she rightly did so for her protection.

God indeed heard and has not abandoned his her who lived her life in obedience to His law.

God inspired a young boy Daniel to rescue her. The spirit of God was leading him to take no part in her sentence, then led him to speak the truth, and then guided him to prove the truth (his point).

It was a very clever and separate examination of the accusers (the elders) which led the people to realise the inconsistencies in their evidence and he proved them to be liars. They received the punishment intended for Susanna.

Although she was falsely accused, she kept her faith in God, and God inspired and guided Daniel with his truth, wisdom, perception and sense of justice to save the innocent from impending death.

Gospel:

In the Gospel, in contrast to Susanna, here the woman was actually guilty of adultery and was also sentenced to death, however Jesus forgave her and saved. She was as per the law justly accused and sentenced, therefore as regards this there was no hope for her because the law says so. But on the way to her execution, something extraordinary happens like that of Susanna’s case.

The Pharisees and others in this context were emotionally running high, tempers were rising high on account of the act and they felt a kind of self righteous in their execution.

A note to the Parents:

Especially the Parents and the elders need to pay attention to their words and actions in front of their children when they are emotionally caught up, tempers racing and feel righteous because this will have a long standing effect in their growth process.

Therefore, first Jesus calms the situation by not replying to their demands.

Then, he writes something on the sand, he changes their direction for sometime to get their better attention.

A neutral situation was established.

Then Jesus says,“if there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”, they realise and in silence one by one leave the place. Of course Jesus is not condoning her act but going beyond he is forgiving and saving her from her sins. This was a kind of intervention needed in her life to realise that she is respected and loved by God and is given another opportunity to life worthy of and in obedience to God.

Let us not run emotionally high and react judgmentally or with an attitude of self righteousness to condemn others' mistakes or sins.

God is forgiving and let us not throw stones at others in our words, thoughts and actions.

“I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5:32)

“For God so loved the world that he gave* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

Fr. Jayaraju Manthena OCD

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Romans 8:8-11

John 11:1-45

From Death to Life (Resurrection)

As we draw closer to the end of Lent, The readings for the 5th Sunday clearly speak about Death and Life. The readings tell us God’s desire to bring back to life, if Christ dwells in us, there is a new life and an example of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

First Reading:

The people of Israel, during this time of exile are spiritually dead, despaired and without any hope of revival. Therefore , In this context through the prophet Ezekiel God has given a vision of valley filled dry bones, which represent the situation of the people of israel and God opens the grave and raises the dead ( in a way physically) The Lord has promised that

He would revive their hopes putting the spirit within them , give them purpose

He would restore them to life, bringing them back to their land.

It is in reference to A prophecy and promise of spiritual renewal or resurrection of Jews. However this perfectly fits Jesus Christ, who would breathe a new spirit into his followers, revive the hope and give a new land to live.

Gospel: Physical death and Resurrection

The Gospel today presents to us the death of Lazarus and Jesus rising from death. This incident perfectly depicts the humanity and divinity of Christ and also the reality of pain and suffering that comes with loss of a loved one.

He expresses his deep concern and compassion for Martha and Mary for the loss of their brother.

He also weeps openly expressing his grief over the death of his friend Lazarus.

Faith and Life: he prays to the Father, and proceeds to call Lazarus from the tomb, which demonstrates his power over death and life, and his divinity. This has led many to believe in him. A reminder for us to believe in him who has authority and power over life and death. Faith is the key here, as expressed by Martha in today’s Gospel that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, so also if we have faith like Martha even if we die, we will live(will have new life/resurrection)

From Bonds to freedom: Jesus tells that once Lazarus comes out from the tomb, “unbind him, and let him go free”. For all those Jesus loves, he wants today to liberate us from all that bonds of sin and death. Therefore, we have to reflect, what are those attitudes, addictions, fears and situations from which today we need to be freed.

From Death to Life: Lazarus was dead but Jesus raised him. Today we have to reflect on ourselves. What is dead in me, is it my faith, my hope, my ability to love and to show concern, & empathy. Everything can be brought back to life, if the power of the spirit and Jesus is in me, as St. Paul tells in the Second reading of the day.

Second Reading: Paul teaches that those who live according to the flesh cannot please God, because we are hostile to God, do not submit to his word and controlled by sinful living (dead to God but slavery to Sin, but those who live according to the Spirit have the Spirit of Christ within them and will have life. This is because we are constantly being sanctified and transformed with power of the spirit not in bondage of sinful attitudes. Therefore, he calls us today to be controlled by the Holy Spirit and live.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, we can conclude by saying

God tells, “ I have promised and I will do it”, and We hear Jesus say in the gospel: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” This assures us everything we hope for, trust in him and everything turns into new life.

God loves us, as he loved the people of Israel and Lazarus

He calls us out of our death into new life. Therefore for us who believe death is not the end, but a gateway to return to God.

The resurrection of Jesus which is victory of life over death points towards us to hope in Him

“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) 

Fr. Jayaraju Manthena OCD