Fifth Sunday of Lent - April 2, 2006

Context taken from http://www.npm.org/Planning/yearb/index.html

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT A Lectionary #34
The Third Scrutiny: Life. There are various forms of life and various forms of resurrection. There is the restoration to life that the people experienced when they were allowed to return from Exile; there is the restoration to life that people experience when they have a religious conversion; and there is the miraculous resurrection that Lazarus received. But the resurrection of Jesus surpasses all these, offering us more than we could possibly imagine.

Ezekiel 37:12-14. God promises to restore the people to their homeland and to give them a rebirth of faith.

Psalm of the Day: Ps (129) 130
Psalm 130 is another traditional "penitential psalm." Like Psalm 51, it is used by the church during seasons and rituals of repentance. It sings of another kind of "resurrection"—the restoration of someone who is suffering, who has experienced God's mercy, forgiveness, and redemption.

Romans 8:8-11. Paul uses “flesh” to mean those who have not come to belief in Christ and “spirit” to mean those who have. For those who believe, the Spirit is at work restoring all of creation and raising it to the new life given us in Christ.

John 11:1-45. The story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus makes some points similar to those made in the previous week's Gospel: You need to see things from God's perspective in order to understand them. Jesus is the source of true life. Though he is “the Christ, the Son of God,” he is also very human, deeply touched by the sorrow of his friends at the death of Lazarus. God is acting through him not only in this miracle but also throughout his ministry (“I know that you always hear me”).

Opening: Let the fire fall (see sheet)
Ps: Ps 130: With God There Is Mercy (CC-90) - (need to make sure this is good)
Offertory: Precious Lord, Take My Hand(CC-343)
Com #1: I am the bread of life (CC-478)
Com #2: Give Me Jesus (CC-349)
Closing: Abba, Father (CC-365)