IFTTT Autopost 
In today’s Gospel reading for this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we read the story of Jesus raising his friend, Lazarus, from the dead. The Gospel of John says:
So, Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So, they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, 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.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him (John 11: 38-45).
In the early days of Catholic Christianity, many people did not read, for there were no such things as printing presses. Thus, Catholic Christians learned their faith through memorizing prayers such as the Our Father, through plays or songs, or through other forms of art. And one of the earliest and most popular of the artistic presentations of Jesus’ life was the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
In our Baptism, we are raised up like Lazarus into new life. The old self is gone, and now we are marked with an indelible mark on our souls as creatures as belonging to Jesus. How grateful are you for this amazing gift of new life?
