Shikrot Mpwi – Sunday Synopsis
Fr. Justine John DYIKUK
Dear friends in Christ,
On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A (22 March 2026), I bring you greetings and God’s blessings!
Theme: Beyond the Tomb!
Introduction
Dear Friend in Christ, our liturgy leads us toward the resurrection. The first reading reassures us that the Lord will restore those returning from Babylon, while St. Paul distinguishes between the Spirit’s works and the flesh’s. The gospel presents Lazarus’s resurrection, reflecting the Paschal reality. We have all faced various forms of death in our lives, such as broken marriages, family conflict, unemployment, and losing loved ones. We also wrestle with self-doubt, guilt, selfishness, and mediocrity.
Review and Summary of the Readings
In the first reading (Ezekiel 37:12-14), the Prophet Ezekiel, a priest from the Jerusalem temple in 597 BC, was deported to Babylon with King Joachim and the first exiles. He confidently assures them that God will restore them to their homeland, symbolically raising them from their graves.
In Romans 8:8, St. Paul contrasts the works of the flesh, termed Sarkinos, with the works of the Spirit, referred to as Pneumatikos. He emphasises that “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
In the Gospel of John (11:1-45), a powerful and moving event unfolds when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. After experiencing the profound grief of losing their beloved brother, Mary and Martha understood that they had done everything within their power to save him. Heartbroken, they prepared for his burial, laying him to rest in the tomb, unaware that their sorrow would soon turn to overwhelming joy as Jesus arrived to perform a miracle that would restore their brother to life.
Takeaway Lessons
1. Both the first reading and the gospel invite us to resurrect that dream of holiness, developing a strong relationship with God, putting God first in our hearts.
2. Paul’s invitation to jettison the works of the flesh reminds us that “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
3. Leaning on the story of Lazarus, I urge you to stop weeping. See the resurrection standing before you! Put your trust in God and reclaim the promise He placed in your heart.
4. Just as the community helped Lazarus by removing the stone from the tomb and unbinding him after coming out of the tomb, we are charged to live for God and others – giving our time, our resources, our energy and ourselves in the service of neighbour.
5. Jesus wept for Lazarus to show us that he has come to share in our humanity, thus inspiring our humanity and empowering us towards embracing divinity, now and in the next.
Conclusion
Beyond the tomb of Lazarus, we must take a bold leap of faith in the face of disillusionment. Martha brought her sadness to the Lord, and He transformed it into a powerful experience of faith. Jesus’ words to Lazarus remind us not to dwell in the graveyard of guilt and to let go of the past. Clinging to dead issues only leads to stagnation—no amount of effort can revive what’s gone. Acknowledge it’s time to move forward and focus your energy on what you can impact. Bury the past, embrace your peace, and start anew in Christ!
