“Come out of the Tomb” Ezk 37:12-14 Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45 (Lent A / 5)

 

“Come out of the Tomb”

 

Ezk 37:12-14 Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45 (Lent A / 5)

“He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature”

 

The message of today’s Liturgical readings is that God brings life where there seems to be only death. The people of Israel were living in exile (Ezk 37:12–14). Their land was destroyed, their temple ruined, and their hope buried. They felt like people already dead. But God spoke through the prophet and promised: “I will open your graves and bring you back to life.” God said he will place his “רוּחַ” (ruaḥ) in them. The Hebrew word ruaḥ means “breath”, “spirit”, or “life-force”. It is the same word used in the creation story when God breathed life into Adam (Gen 2:7), i.e., humanity. The God who created life can restore life.

 

Even when people feel spiritually or socially dead, God’s Spirit can renew them. We see this promise fulfilled in today’s Gospel (Jn 11:1–45). Lazarus was in the tomb for four days. Humanly speaking, everything is finished. Martha and Mary were grieving, and the community accepted death. But Jesus made a profound declaration: “I am the resurrection and the life.” The Greek word used here for resurrection is “ἀνάστασις (anástasis)”, which literally means “to rise again.” It is not only about life after death. It also means God raising a person from despair into new life. Jesus called out with authority: “Lazarus, come out!” And the man who was dead walked out of the tomb. This miracle reveals a deep theological truth: Jesus is the Lord of life. Where humanity sees an end, Christ creates a new beginning.

 

Each of us sometimes experiences tombs in our lives — places where hope feels buried. Some live in the tomb of sin, others in fear, broken relationships, discouragement, or loss of faith. Yet Christ stands before every tomb and calls us by name, just as he called Lazarus. His voice invites us to step out of whatever binds us. Through prayer, repentance, and trust in God, we experience spiritual resurrection even now. This message also has a social meaning. Many people today live in what we might call social tombs — poverty, loneliness, injustice, or exclusion. As followers of Christ, we are called not only to receive new life but also to help bring life to others. As Pope Francis reminds us in Fratelli Tutti, a society rooted in fraternity and solidarity can restore hope to those who feel forgotten. At the end of the Gospel, Jesus told the community: “Untie him and let him go.” After calling Lazarus out of the tomb, the community needed to remove the cloths that bound him. This is our mission as a Church — to help free one another from whatever keeps us bound.

 

As we approach Holy Week, Christ still speaks the same powerful words today: “Come out.” Come out of fear. Come out of sin. Come out of despair. And when the ruaḥ — the Spirit of God — fills our lives, we too will experience anástasis, rising into new life with Christ.

 

“…through the grace of God’s Word, everyone is made abundantly clean”.