Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year, A – April 2, 2017

Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 130:1-2.3-4.5-7a.7b-8.(R.7b); Rom. 8:8-11; Gospel Jn 11:1-45.

Theme: Rise Up, Resurrect that Dream!

Beloved in Christ, as we gradually close in on Easter, the first reading from Ezekiel 37:12-14 tells us about the Prophet Ezekiel, a priest of the temple of Jerusalem who lived around 597 BC and was deported from Babylon with King Joachim alongside the first deportees. The prophet sings redemption song as the people count their blessings wrought about by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Prophet Ezekiel encourages the remnant of Yahweh promising them that God would restore their land in the following words: “Behold I will open their graves and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel” (Ezekiel 37:12). This message of hope is even clearer in Verse 25 of Ezekiel 37.

Apparently, the message of the first reading is a prelude to the gospel narrative wherein Jesus restores Lazarus to life after four days of being in the tomb. Reflecting on the raising of Lazarus from the dead, we realize that we ourselves may have experienced many deaths and have being buried in the tomb severally while still alive.

Think of the deaths/tomb(s) of breakages in marriage, lack of peace in the family, unemployment and other unfortunate scenarios like being victims of crime, violence, rape, incest and abortion. Other such dead or tomb situations are, bereavement of a loved one -  be it husband, wife, father, mother, sister or brother. When we experience self-doubt, guilt of the past, we often feel like we are in the tomb.  Selfishness and mediocrity equally makes us feel dry and dead.

Friend in Christ, you can’t spend your life in the graveyard of quilt dealing with the corpses of the past. You must rely on God’s Spirit to help you know when things are dead in your life so as to know when to release them. Chances are that if you continue to work with the dry bones of dead issues, you too, will begin to decay. You must realise that no amount of work can resuscitate a corpse. All you need to do is to sign the dead certificate and bury the past.