From The Bishop

(This is a re-post from April, 2017) In the Gospel of St. John for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesus states at the end of the passage, “Unbind him, and let him go.” We know that Lazarus was entombed for four days and was wrapped in strips of cloth. Jesus wanted the gathered crowd to free him from these physical constraints. I believe that Jesus also wants His Church to free people from their many spiritual constraints. Just as Jesus loved Lazarus and was “greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved” by his death, He also loves us and mourns our own spiritual limitations. We can be bound by so many things and we need to be set free. Jesus wants us to know that despite the struggles and difficulties of life, we can still have hope. In both the First Reading (Ezekiel) and the Second Reading (Romans) we are reminded that the Spirit of God is what brings life. St. Paul states, “But you are not in the flesh: you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.” The Holy Spirit provides the power to change and gives meaning to life. The sacramental, liturgical and communal life of the Church brings spiritual life to her members. As we rapidly approach Holy Week and confront the Paschal Mystery, we need to take some time to consider those things that enslave us. It is only then that we will be able to move to greater freedom in our celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Change is not easy; however, in the light of the Resurrection, with the power of the Holy Spirit, the impossible becomes possible. In the Gospel Jesus states, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  Jesus asks the same question to each one of us.