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Catholic Charities USA
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Readings of the Day
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The story in today's gospel must have been an amazing experience
for Jesus' followers as they stood with him at the tomb of
Lazarus. How do we hear it today?
Jesus instructed the people gathered with him, "Take away
the stone." Martha reacts - "Lord, by now there will
be a stench; he has been dead for four days." But the people
take away the stone and Jesus calls Lazarus to come out of the tomb.
The dead man, wrapped in burial clothes, comes out and Jesus says
again to those gathered with him, "Untie him and let him
go." Lazarus lives. Many came to believe as a result
of this sign that Jesus was sent by God.
This story is not unlike a lot of life. Life can be stinky. We can
find ourselves or those we try to help to be in stinky tombs -
fearful, lifeless, and hopeless. Our churches and society can
also be entombed by racism, sexism, cynicism, fear, and hatred.
What's fascinating is that Jesus doesn't take away the
stone or unwrap Lazarus from his burial garments. Instead, he commands
the people gathered at the tomb to take away the stone and to unwrap
Lazarus. It is the followers of Jesus that are given this
responsibility!
I can't help but think of this gospel in light of the spread of
the coronavirus and COVID-19. There is no part of the world that
isn't being impacted. People are being asked and told to stay in
their houses to isolate themselves. All day long we are confronted
with the numbers - people sick and people dying. Talk about
feeling entombed!
I'm also struck by how neighborhoods around the world are
breaking the isolation through singing, music, and exercising from
balconies or roof tops, as in my hometown of Baltimore; buying
groceries for older neighbors; praying on social media; and so much
more. People are also rejecting any attempts to deny the reality
of the virus, to spread hatred by blaming other cultures for the
virus- attempts to entomb us and our society. I agree with
Pope Francis when he spoke about the coronavirus. He reminded us that
"United in Christ, we are never alone."
Whether as individuals, parish communities, or Catholic Charities, we
are empowered by our baptism to take away the stones that keep us, our
communities, our society, and our church, entombed. As we
prepare for Easter, may we be signs of hope instead of fear and
despair. We pray that our actions profess our belief in the
power of God's love to overcome death, even death on a cross.
Kathy Brown worked for Catholic Charities USA as Senior Director of
Mission Integration and Catholic Identity from 2008 to 2017. For 40
years she worked in various ministries including the Diocese of
Phoenix, parishes, retreat centers, RCIA national team, and Catholic
Relief Services. She also served as the Regional Coordinator for
Caritas North America for 14 years. She and her husband, Scott,
currently live in Baltimore but are moving to Maine in
April. Kathy has an MDiv and MA in Theology from St. Paul
University, Ottawa Canada.
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