Author: SHSS

Lazarus and New Life

Lazarus and the theme of new life stand at the center of our readings for this Fifth Sunday in Lent. In the Gospel, we meet two sisters, Martha and Mary. They are the sisters of Lazarus, who has died. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were friends of Jesus.

This Gospel, like the Gospel of the Woman at the Well and the Man Born Blind, is catechetical because it prepares us for the Sacrament of Baptism. The first reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel speaks to us of bringing new life from the grave: “I will put my spirit in you that you may live…” In the second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, we read: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will raise your mortal bodies to life through the Spirit dwelling in you.”

Faith and Baptism

Faith is the requirement of Baptism. In the Gospel, Jesus asks Martha if she believes that he is the resurrection and the life. Martha answers, “Yes, I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, he who was to come into the world.” Notice that, for Martha, faith developed. This growth in her faith came as a result of her friendship with Jesus.

Jesus tells the people to remove the stone from the tomb of Lazarus. With this done, Jesus calls Lazarus back to life. The stone is an important symbol. Before new life can be given, the stone had to be removed. While Lazarus is returned to life, Jesus is creating new life in the spirit.

Removing the Stones

For that new life to be created in us, we need to remove whatever is blocking or interfering with a new life in Christ. The stones inhibiting our relationship with Christ are anything that distracts us, stops us, or prohibits growth in the spirit. These stones may be relationships that need to be reconciled or addressed, past guilt that has caused us to fear approaching God, regrets about behaviors, addictions, and more.

Only grace can help us move the stone blocking us from new life in Christ. Look at the burial bindings that held the body of Lazarus. Jesus says, “Free him and let him go.” There are many of us who seem bound up with issues from which we need to be freed. Once those are removed, we will hear more clearly the voice of Christ calling us to peace, joy, and love in the spirit.

Questions for Reflection

In the end, it comes down to these questions:

Do you believe that Jesus is God among us? Do you trust that Jesus can create new life in you and change your life for the better? Do you want a deeper relationship with Jesus in the sacred text, the Eucharist, the sacraments, and the community of the Church, or are you content with a relationship based on religious obligations that may not reach the depths of our being?

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
March 22, 2026

Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Lent. In the Gospel, we meet the man born blind. In this text, a man blind from birth comes to see Jesus as the Messiah. The Gospel story tells us about his faith journey.

When the man born blind is first asked who healed him, he says that Jesus healed him. The second time he is asked about Jesus, the man born blind says Jesus is a prophet. Finally, the man born blind comes to believe that Jesus is the Son of Man. Thus, faith and insight into the identity of Jesus came gradually. Faith grew in him through his thinking and reflecting.

The questions posed to him and the answers he offered illustrate the development of faith in the blind man’s heart. Notice the development of this passage. The questioning of the Man Born Blind seems to resemble the questions put to Jesus during his passion. The presentation also seems similar to the questioning of Christians who are being persecuted for their faith.

Beware of the contrast between the leaders of the people and the Man Born Blind. With each question, the blind man comes to a deeper insight into the identity of Jesus. While the leaders seem to be blinded to the identity of Jesus due to their hardness of heart, the blind man comes to faith.

Faith as Illumination

Baptism in the ancient church was called illumination because faith gave us light to see beyond the literal or physical world. Faith enlightened the person. In the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told that faith is the conviction of things unseen.

As we journey on to Easter and the renewal of our baptismal promises, what questions about the faith do you have? Do you struggle with some of the aspects of faith? Has your faith grown over the years? May there be some blind spots in your thinking and perceptions of Jesus? Are there perception problems we may be having in seeing the truth about ourselves or someone we love?

What actually blinded the leaders? Were they really blind? Were they fearful of Jesus? Did they think they would lose their privileged position? Were they afraid of change? The life of the Man Born Blind changed after he was given sight. He could no longer beg. He could no longer claim to be ignorant. He had to take responsibility for his own life.

Responsibility in the Light

We are responsible for what we know. To know and understand is another way of being in the light. Ignorance is another way of being in the dark. Seeing can be a dangerous thing.

If we confess Jesus, how does our life change? What attitudes in us need to change? What behaviors need to change in us if we profess our faith in the Lordship of Christ Jesus? What behaviors are not compatible with faith in the Lord?

Lent calls us to a deeper inner conversion to the mind and heart of Christ Jesus. Professing to believe in Christ carries a great responsibility. What prevents us from seeing? How do we see? Do we see what actually is, or do we see what our minds wish us to see?

God is light. In the Prologue of the Gospel of St. John, we read that Jesus is the light that the darkness cannot overcome. Do we really want to see?

Msgr. Guy A. Massie
March 15, 2026