Fifth Sunday of Lent - 2026
John 11: 1-45
As we all know, the story of Lazarus’s dying and being called back to life from the tomb is only found in the Gospel of John.
It can be viewed as both a story of tragedy as well as a comedy – not the funny kind that we all connect with the idea of comedies today; but rather with the idea of comedy as it was understood in Ancient Greece, and even up to Shakespeare’s time. It meant any narrative story that began in confusion or conflict or misfortune and ended with a positive resolution, or in joy. That is, after all what this story of Lazarus is – a story of sadness in death, yet one that ended in unbelievable excitement and joy.
In this case it was an excitement the Gospel tells us, that led many others to believe in Jesus.
It is a story of calling forth. The apostles originally did not want Jesus to return to Jerusalem because they knew the people there wanted to stone him. After all, they had tried once to do that and Jesus escaped them. Why would Jesus return and chance it again they wondered?
But Jesus knew he had to do this not just for Lazarus, or for Mary and Martha whom he loved, but for his followers so they could come to understand the gift of salvation promised by God through him.
Jesus wasn’t just calling forth Lazarus from the tomb, after the stone had been rolled away. He was calling the apostles and disciples “to see” what could be.
Jesus calls us today in the same way: to “look beyond what we know, to see with our heart.”
We too are called out of a “tomb” so to speak, every day. Every time we learn new things, obtain new information, we take it into ourselves, and incorporate it into our thinking, or acting or being.
Let us ask ourselves, from where is Jesus calling us to come?
From what tomb does he desire to bring us out?
Maybe from an idea we hold? from a political conundrum? from a place of comfort we love?
And let us also ask ourselves, to where are we being called?
To peace from the violence that surrounds our world; to calm from turmoil? to beauty from ugliness? To love from sorrow and despair?
Wherever Jesus calls us each day, let us be open to hear Christ’s voice, to respond from the depths of our heart, and to follow where we are led. Like Lazarus we don’t know what awaits us? But if Jesus is there - if Jesus calls – it’s all for the good!
Sister Susan Hutchens, OSB