A REFLECTION FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

A REFLECTION FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT:

Jesus said in great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, ‘Where have you put him?’  They said, ‘Lord come and see.’ 

A death in a family  or close-knit community always brings a time of  grief and  transition.  While most of us deeply appreciate the willingness of extended family and community to weave a mantle of care around us, we also know our need of moments to ourselves and moments with God.

Is Christ distressed by death in the way we are?   I do not know.  But I have come to see that he hates to see people in distress and that his question ‘Where have you put him (or her)?’ remains his word to many grieving people today.  And is there a ‘Lazarus’ event in your story or mine, the lingering impact of a deep sorrow, the curtailment of life, an inability to move on?

Sacred Scripture, Church Tradition and sometimes our own experiences confirm that no one is ever dead to God (Mt 22:32).  … But might we also need to say “Lord come and see”?  Is there a crevice in our hearts that could benefit from the healing touch of ‘the Resurrection and the life’?  Might we benefit from being  unbound?   Today I pray that each of us will share the  confidence of Martha when she said, ‘but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’

Taking Our Hearts to the Lord – Scripture Sharing Group Resource, Lent 2017