Faith Brings Life

Reflection Date: March 22 , 2026 | Fifth Sunday of Lent
Daily Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 

Children of God:
How many Lazarus are in the Bible? 

There are actually two well-known figures named Lazarus in the New Testament. 

One appears in a parable told by Jesus about a poor man named Lazarus who sat at the gate of a rich man. 

That Lazarus represented the suffering poor who later found comfort in God’s presence. 

The other Lazarus is the one we hear about in the gospel story today. 

He was a real person and a close friend of Jesus. He lived in the village of Bethany with his sisters Martha and Mary. 

Their home was a place where Jesus often stayed when he visited the area. 

Lazarus became seriously ill and eventually died. 

His sisters sent word to Jesus, hoping he would come quickly. 

But when Jesus arrived, Lazarus was already in the tomb for four days.

In the gospel story of John, Martha and Mary were filled with grief. 

Martha met Jesus and expressed both her sorrow and her faith. 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25). 

Then Jesus went to the tomb and asked that the stone be removed. He prayed to the Father and called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). 

Lazarus walked out of the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths. 

The crowd witnessed a powerful sign that life was stronger than death.

What are our inspirations for today?

First, Jesus is present even in our moments of sorrow.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he saw the grief of Martha and Mary. 

He also saw the people who came to comfort them. The gospel even showed that Jesus himself wept.

This moment revealed something very human and very divine. 

Jesus did not ignore their pain. He stood with them and shared their sorrow.

In our lives, we also experience loss, disappointment, and grief. Sometimes we feel alone in those moments. 

Yet the story reminds us that Jesus does not stay distant. 

He comes close and walks with us in our pain.

Second, Jesus calls us back to life.

Lazarus lay in the tomb for four days. By human thinking, everything was already finished. 

Yet Jesus stood before the tomb and called him out.

His voice broke the silence of death. Lazarus walked out, and the people around him saw a sign of God’s power. 

The miracle showed that God’s word brings life where people see only endings.

Today we reflect on our own lives. Are there parts of my life that feel like a closed tomb? Do I believe that Jesus can still bring life into situations that seem hopeless? Am I ready to respond when Christ calls me to step out and live again?

Children of God:
The story of Lazarus reminds us that God’s power reaches even the darkest moments. 

Jesus did not only comfort the grieving sisters; he restored life to their brother. 

The miracle gave hope to the people who witnessed it. 

It also prepared the path toward the events of Holy Week. 

The Lord who raised Lazarus later faced his own death on the cross. 

Yet that death also opened the door to resurrection. 

Our faith stands on that promise of life. 

Even when we face loss or despair, we remember that Christ speaks words of life. 

His voice calls us to rise, to hope, and to believe. 

Let us listen to that voice every day.