Reflection for March 22, 2026

Fifth Sunday of Lent (A)

Ezekiel 37:12-14 | Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 | Romans 8:8-11 | ​John 11:1-45

​As our Lenten journey builds up, we’re all being called to reflect on how death gives way to new life. Today, Jesus is shown to us not just as someone who heals and sustains life, but as the one who brings life back even when it’s been lost.

​On May 25, 2017, during the Siege of Marawi, Sandra Cruz got a phone call so bad it felt like her whole world just unplugged. The news? Her son Samuel, a soldier, had supposedly died after stepping on a grenade. Cue three straight days of crying, no appetite, dramatic staring into space—the full heartbreak package. Even the best “everything will be okay” speeches were getting zero stars. Then on day three… the phone rings. Sandra probably thought, “Who is this and why now?” She answers. “Mama, it’s me. I’m alive.” At this point, you can imagine her squinting at the phone like, “Excuse me?? Who is this prankster?!” But as they kept talking, it hit her—it really was him. Suddenly, tears turned into laughter, confusion into joy—basically emotional whiplash. One minute it’s the worst news ever, next minute it’s the best plot twist of her life. Because sometimes, the most unbelievable comeback stories start where hope seemed completely buried.

Ezekiel’s vision speaks to moments when life feels empty and hope seems gone. Like the dry bones in exile, the people of Israel believed their story had already ended. Yet God does not see endings the way we do. He promises to open graves, to breathe His Spirit, and to restore life where none seems possible. In times of crisis and uncertainty, we can feel just as lifeless—drained, afraid, and without direction. But this reading reminds us that God is still at work even in our lowest moments. He is not distant from our struggles; He is the one who brings renewal from within. We are invited to trust, to hold on, and to believe that God can turn even our darkest situations into new beginnings. With His Spirit, what seems dead can rise again.

Edgardo, his wife Abegail, and his mother-in-law Cynthia went on a peaceful pilgrimage to the Holy Land—very spiritual, very solemn… until things took a very unexpected turn. While visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Cynthia was so overwhelmed by the beauty that—boom—heart attack. Instant exit. Talk about “resting in a holy place.” So Edgardo, now suddenly in charge of international… logistics, heads to the Philippine Embassy. The Consul breaks it to him gently: “Sir, sending the body back to Manila will cost around ₱260,000.” Edgardo: deep breath. “But… burying her here in Jerusalem? Only ₱7,800.” Now that’s a huge discount. Practically a buy-one-get-none deal. Edgardo pauses, thinks hard, then says, “Nope. I’ll pay ₱260,000. Send her home.” The Consul, touched, says, “Wow… your mother in law must have meant so much to you.” Edgardo shakes his head. “No, not really. I just heard someone got buried here once and came back after three days… I’m not taking that risk.”

Saint Paul reminds us that life in the Spirit is what truly gives us life. Even in the face of persecution and a world that often promotes a culture of death, we are not without hope. The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, quietly working, giving strength, and promising new life. Like a seed buried in the soil, our struggles and even death may seem like endings. But in God’s plan, they are beginnings. What looks like loss can become transformation. What seems like death can lead to something more beautiful. This reading invites us to live not according to fear or the flesh, but according to the Spirit. If we allow God’s Spirit to dwell in us, then His life already begins within us now—and it will be brought to fullness in the resurrection.

Walter, a hardworking BPO agent, approaches his team lead Mickey with a serious face. “Boss, I need to take a day off… my grandmother passed away.” Mickey, being a decent human being for once, says, “Of course, go ahead.” Next day—Walter’s back at work like nothing happened. Headset on, taking calls, “Thank you for calling, how may I assist you today?” Mickey calls him over, looking very… thoughtful. “Walter,” he says, “do you believe in resurrection from the dead?” Walter blinks. “Uh… yes, I am Catholic.  Mickey nods slowly. “Wow. That’s interesting.” Walter: “…Why?” Mickey leans in. “Because right after you left yesterday… your grandmother came here looking for you.” Cue instant panic, confusion, and Walter questioning all his life choices.

The story of Lazarus shows us that Jesus is never late, even when things seem beyond hope. Four days in the tomb, with decay already setting in, Lazarus’ situation appeared final. Yet Jesus enters into this moment of grief and loss, revealing something greater than healing—He reveals Himself as the Resurrection and the Life. Martha’s faith is challenged to go deeper: not just believing in what Jesus can do, but in who He truly is. In the face of death, Jesus calls for trust. He does not deny the pain of loss, but transforms it with hope. This Gospel reminds us that no situation is too far gone for God. Even when all seems lost, Jesus speaks life. If we believe in Him, death does not have the final word. In Christ, we are promised not just restored life, but eternal life.

<enrique,ofs>