This Liturgy Blog is for those communities who choose to do the OCIA Option readings of Year A. For the Year C readings, please see the companion blog for this day.
On this 5th Sunday of Lent, we pray the third scrutiny prayers over our OCIA Elect, concluding our three-week reflection on John’s Gospel which is so focused on presenting the divinity of Christ through signs. On the 3rd Sunday of Lent, the sign was water, with Jesus presented to us as the Living Water of eternal life. On the 4th Sunday, the sign was light, with Jesus as the Light of the World. Today, on this 5th and final Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with the sign of Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life.
The evangelist identifies Lazarus as the brother of the sisters Martha and Mary, who also appear in chapter 10 of Luke’s Gospel. Clearly, these are dear friends of Jesus, as demonstrated by the deep love and emotion he shows for them in this story.
This sign we see in today’s Gospel is for the benefit of Martha and Mary and those who mourn Lazarus at their house; it is for the benefit of John’s community; for the generations of Christians who have been inspired by this story over the centuries; for the benefit of our OCIA candidates as they make their final preparations for the Easter sacraments; and for benefit of you and me who are reflecting on this story at this very moment. For all of us who have grappled with the mystery of death, Martha’s words, repeated by her sister Mary, could very well be our own:
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would never have died.
Jesus reassures Martha:
I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?
Martha replies for all of us:
Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.
That is a triple declaration of the divinity of Christ: he is the Messiah, he is the Son of God, and he is the One whom the Father sent into this world. And to prove that point once and for all, Jesus raises Lazarus literally from the grave. Yes, Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Do we believe this? In the raising of Lazarus, Jesus gives us the promise of the eternal life of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ greatest sign in John’s gospel is the gift of life. And yet, for this, he receives death. But that part of the story continues next week, on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.
5th Sunday of Lent Entrance Antiphon Give Me Justice, O God (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart, Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #79
This Entrance Antiphon from Psalm 43 concludes with the words, “for you, O God, are my strength.” This is apt reassurance to our OCIA Elect as we pray with them on this day.
Entrance Chant What Wondrous Love Is This (Traditional; arr. by Josh Blakesley)
Spirit & Song #364
Josh offers an uplifting contemporary arrangement of this traditional Passiontide hymn. Note how verse 3 sings of freedom from death, a gift that Jesus granted to Lazarus and to all who believe he is the Resurrection and the Life.
Responsorial Psalm With the Lord There Is Mercy, and Fullness of Redemption (Jesse Manibusan)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 140
Keep in mind that the Spirit & Psalm settings offer two options for interpreting the verses: You can either chant the verses and support the cantor with simple chords on guitar or piano. Or, you can play the verses metrically to match the meter of the response.
Lenten Gospel Acclamation Praise and Honor: Mass of Restoration (Josh Blakesley and Leland G. “Grae” McCullough, IV)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 142
The Acclamation verse references the words of Jesus from today’s Gospel.
Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts We Come Alive (Cooper Ray and Sarah Hart)
This song by Cooper and Sarah celebrates the power of Christ as the Resurrection and the Life within the context of the Cross. You will find the sheet music in the link above.
5th Sunday of Lent Communion Antiphon Everyone Who Lives and Believes in Me [Option 1] (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart, Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #80
Option 1 was specifically placed in the Roman Missal to highlight the core teaching from today’s Gospel. Remember that the Communion Antiphon may be repeated prayerfully several times during the distribution of the Eucharist. This would be a simple way to underscore Jesus’ powerful words of hope.
Communion Chant God So Loved (Ken Canedo)
Breaking Bread #149
This anthem setting of Jesus’ teaching on eternal life from John 3:16 will complement the Communion Antiphon well.
Sending Forth Christ in Me, Arise (Trevor Thomson)
Spirit & Song #278; Breaking Bread #503
Trevor Thomson’s chant-like refrain has a haunting medieval melody that makes his reflection on the power of Christ timeless.
Liturgy Blog is a weekly liturgy planning resource for musicians, liturgists, homilists, youth groups, faith sharing groups, and all who look to the liturgical readings for inspiration and nourishment. Join Ken Canedo as he breaks open the Scripture and suggests tracks from the Spirit & Song contemporary repertoire.
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