5th Sunday of Lent Year A, 29/03/2020

On this 5th Sunday of Lent, we come nearer to the climax of the Lenten season. Our readings are full of hope and life. In our first reading this Sunday, the people of Israel are in the Babylonian exile. The prophet tells them that God will put a new Spirit in them and raise them from their graves. This is also our present predicament with the coronavirus disease that has exiled us in our homes, depriving us of our precious times and social moments with friends, relatives, our faith communities, and our passion for life. But we are not alone, we have a God who is promising us the gift of the new Spirit and life. As the Psalmist is encouraging us, we have a God to trust in, who is full of mercy and compassion, and he will redeem us.

            The Gospel offers us a great sign of Jesus who is our resurrection and life, leading us into the coming weeks of the great mystery of our salvation. Our faith in him, will then, help us to see beyond the Covid19 disease and our other life struggles. And our persistence in authentic prayer is our true expression of the belief in Jesus who is the resurrection and the life.

            Let us all hear him this Sunday asking us this question; “Do you believe this?”. Our outlook of life must be centered on the belief that God has the power to save us from death, he is present in our experience.

Stay safe and healthy.