Fifth Sunday of Lent
Massimo Palombella
Today’s Gospel (Jn 11:1-45) recounts the resurrection of Lazarus in Bethany.
In the deceased who “sends out a bad smell” there is each one of us, and Jesus’ cry “Lazarus, come out!” is addressed deeply and directly to each one of us.
Come out of your fears that paralyse your life, come out of your survival patterns that diminish and humiliate your life, come out of the world you have created for yourself not to feel pain, come out of the repeated lie that now seems to be the truth.
Come out. The stone of the tomb you have created for yourself is removed. It is up to you to decide to come out, to live, to let yourself be loved, to go ‘beyond’ all that illudes you to live, to free yourself from those bandages of death that bind you, from that shroud that prevents you from seeing reality.
Come out, be the man, the woman you can, should and are called to be.
The Communion antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from chapter 11 of John’s Gospel (Jn 11:33. 35. 43. 44. 39) with the following text:
“Videns Dóminus flentes soróres Lázari ad monuméntum, lacrimátus est coram Iudéis, et clamábat:
Lázare, veni foras: et pródiit ligátus mánibus et pédibus, qui fúerat quatriduánus mórtuus.”
(When the Lord saw the sisters of Lazarus in tears near the tomb, he wept in the presence of the Jews and cried:
“Lazarus, come forth.” And out he came, hands and feet bound, the man who had been dead for four days).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The interpretation is by the Consortium Vocale conducted by Alexander M. Schweitzer. The music track can be found on the CD ‘Exaudiam Eum – Gregorian Chant for Lent and Holy Week’ published by Lindberg Lyd in 2007.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
