5th SUNDAY OF LENT (A)

“Lazarus, come out!”

Jn 11:1-45

BIBLICAL

The gospel of the Third Sunday was about the faith in Jesus of the Samaritan woman and then of the Samaritan town. The gospel of the Fourth Sunday was about the faith of the Blind Man in Jesus. This Sunday is also about the faith in Jesus of Martha and Mary and then of some of the Jews who witnessed the miracle. The Samaritans believed because of what they heard. The Jews in today’s gospel believed because of what they saw.

The Mary mentioned here is not Mary of Magdala (or Mary Magdalene) but Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and of Lazarus.

The difference in personality of Mary and Martha is again shown in this episode. St. John relates that “when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.” Remember the time when Jesus and his disciples visited their home? While Martha was busy preparing the food of them, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus.

Here again we find an example of misunderstanding the words of Jesus. “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died.”

In the gospel of today John reports that Jesus wept. There is only another instance when Jesus wept. That was when he was beheld Jerusalem where he would suffer and die. “As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If this day you only knew what makes for peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation’” (Luke 19:41).

IMPRISONED AND BOUND

He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

I am going to talk about being imprisoned, bound and un-free.

The first thing that comes to mind is the jail. Some are there because of crimes they committed. Some are there for crimes they have wrongly been accused of committing. Thanks to DNA testing some of them have been found innocent and are now free. Indeed, the truth shall set you free.

But there are others who are in jail because their only crime is that they love their country. Aung Sang Suu Kyi of Myanmar has been detained for 12 years already because she has been op-posing the military dictatorship in her country. Do we love our country?

Some people are not in jail but they are un-free. They are addicts. They may be addicted to tobacco, wine, drugs, gambling, pornography, or on-line games.

I was in Milan one Sunday. I was early so the welcoming committee of one brought me to a nearby cafeteria for coffee. There was an electronic slot machine there. I saw a kababayan trying his luck. He was probably 60. When he had used up all his coins, he went around asking his ‘compaesano’ for some coins. My companion whispered: “He’s addicted to that slot machine.”
One parent wrote to me asking for prayers. His son has been cutting classes. He would go to the internet café and play on-line games there. Is he addicted to those on-line games?

Is there a cure to compulsive behavior? What can we do in order to be set free from such a compulsive behavior?

Alcoholics Anonymous has found a way out. They call it a twelve-step pro-gram. The first three steps are as follows: (1) We admitted we were powerless to stop ourselves from drinking. (2) We came to believe that there is a Power greater than ourselves that could set us free. (3) We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.

Habits are hard to break. They are hard to break because they have become part of our lives. We have become used to them. Some habits are good, like brushing your teeth or taking a bath everyday. Some habits are bad, like saying bad words. How do you break that habit? By applying the principle of substitution. That is, say something else. Have you hear someone say: “Darn it”? Or “Anak ng tupa?”

Viktor Frankl was a neurologist, and psychiatrist. He was the founder of Logotherapy, and existential analysis. He was also a holocaust survivor. He wrote a book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” In it he chronicles his experiences as a concentration camp inmate and describes his psychotherapeutic method of finding meaning in all forms of existence, even the most sordid ones, and thus a reason to continue living.

I read this book and I remember clearly his insight—the guards may take away everything from you. But there is one thing they can never take away from you. And that is the freedom to choose your attitude towards life and how you will react to life.

You are not happy with your work. You don’t like what you are doing. You have the freedom to choose. You can choose to change your work or to remain in your work. But suppose for one reason or another, you can’t leave that work. There still remains the freedom to choose your attitude towards that work. You can choose to suffer through it. Or you can choose to make the best of it.


“Gusto kong bumaet pero di ko magawa” was an instant hit when it came out in 1994. It reflects what St. Paul said in his letter to the Romans: “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7: 19ff). And that is why Jesus is Savior and Redeemer.

Jesus frees us from sin in confession. Go to confession. Jesus strengthens us against sin in Holy Communion. Receive Holy Communion.

But it is still true that God helps those who help themselves. Nasa Diyos ang awa. Nasa tao ang gawa. So what can we do? (1) Avoid the occasions of sin. (2) Develop self-discipline through the practice of self-denial. How can we say no to temptation if our self-discipline is weak? And (3) in time of temptation, pray to Jesus so that he may help you not to fall into sin.


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The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious congregation of priests and brothers dedicated to the welfare of the young. If you feel called by God to give your life for the good of the young, you may want help in discovering if this is really God's will for you. Please get in touch with the Vocation Director (Don Bosco North Province, Philippines) - 0917-7930112 - finvoc@yahoo.com - Bro. MON CALLO SDB.