Fifth Sunday of Lent: A: March 22, 2026

 TRANSFORMATION FROM DEATH TO LIFE

Introduction: The central theme of today's liturgy is the resurrection of the dead. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and brings him back to life. This miracle is the seventh and the most spectacular of the signs performed by Jesus which includes: The wedding feast at Cana of Galilee, the Samaritan woman at the well, the healing of the royal official's son, the miracle of five loaves, walking on water, healing of the blind man and finally raising of Lazarus from the dead. 

First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 12 to 14

Second Reading: Romans 8: 8 to 11

Gospel Reading: John 11: 1 to 45

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel assures the people of Israel who are under the slavery of Babylon that the Lord God will liberate them from their slavery and misery. He compares their captivity to death and their liberation to resurrection and spiritual renewal. He promises them that they will know and experience the Lord God as their Lord and Saviour. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul warns the Christian community of Rome that those who live according to the flesh live in accordance with their natural inclinations. But we, as followers of the Lord, live by the Holy Spirit and hence belong to Christ. Paul assures us that it was the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. The same Spirit of God will give life to our mortal bodies. 

I am the resurrection and the life                                                                  Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. A vivid account of the death of Lazarus and subsequent events is narrated. The death of Lazarus leaves a large absence in the lives of those who loved him. By the time Jesus arrives at Bethany, Lazarus was truly dead and buried for many days. Martha voices her regret that if Jesus had come early, things would have been different. But Jesus' absence is very essential to the whole story. Jesus explains that through the death of Lazarus, "The Son of Man will be glorified." Death of Lazarus and subsequent raising him from the dead show that Jesus is the Life-giver. The name Lazarus means helpless. He is dead, lifeless in the tomb with a stone in front and the smell of decay inside. This is the state of Lazarus before being raised to life. When Martha tells Jesus that she knows her brother will rise again at the resurrection, Jesus assures her, "I am the resurrection and the life." Lazarus stands for all of us - helpless, frustrated, bound up, decaying, blind, deaf, full of worms and totally dead. Seeing the miserable situation of His friend Lazarus, Jesus told, "Roll that stone away," and called out "Lazarus come out." The dead man came out and started to live again. Jesus wants each one of us to do the same, to come out of our tombs and live again. When Jesus becomes the mainstay of our lives, we can experience resurrection here and now. Jesus is the Lord of life. If we believe in Him, death is something that only affects our physical bodies. We will still live even after our physical lives are over. In this context F.W. Roberts says, "He alone can believe in immortality who feels the resurrection in him already." A. Schopenhauer, a great philosopher, says, "Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every coming together again a foretaste of the resurrection." 

Conclusion: Jesus' raising Lazarus from the dead reassures us that death is not the end. It should help us overcome our pains and frustrations just like Martha and Mary when Lazarus died and was buried but later brought back to life by Jesus that day. Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. We too face this great mystery of death of our own and that of those whom we love. We need faith in the Lord to overcome death and experience the resurrection. 

May the Lord Jesus, who raised Lazarus from the dead and promised that 'I am the resurrection and the life', bless you and grant you life eternal. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, March 22, 2026. Thanks.)

Fourth Sunday of Lent: A: March 15, 2026

    GAINING VISION AND LOSING SIGHT

Introduction: The Gospel today narrates how Jesus healed a man born blind.  We all suffer from different forms of blindness. All of us have some blind spots. But Jesus gives us hope to be healed of our blindness if we are ready to admit our lack of sight. 

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16: 1,  6 to 7 and 10 to 13

Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 8 to 14

Gospel Reading: John 9: 1 to 41

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Samuel. The Lord God asks prophet Samuel to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the King of Israel. David, the youngest of the sons of Jesse is chosen although he seems to be the weakest of them all. The Lord God chooses the weak, makes them strong and works through them to manifest His power and glory. When we humans look at the external appearances of a person, the Lord God looks at the heart of a person and makes His choice. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Ephesus that although once they were in darkness, now they are in the light of the Lord. Hence, as children of light, they should bear fruits of the light and they should not take part in the unfruitful works of darkness. 

Jesus heals a man born blind                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The healing of a man born blind is described. This man approaches many physicians and healers to be healed of his blindness. But none of them could heal him. Finally, he approaches Jesus to heal him. Jesus listens to him, makes a paste and applies to his eyes and asks the blind man to wash his eyes in the the pool of Siloam. The man does as instructed by the Lord and eventually he regains his sight. As the story unfolds, the blind man receives physical vision followed by a deeper vision of Jesus. When questioned by Pharisees regarding his gaining sight, the man explains to them the healing process. Gradually, his own vision of Jesus becomes more and more vivid. At first he says, 'A man called Jesus healed me." When further questioned he says, "He is a prophet." When they try to intimidate him, he says, "Unless this man comes from God, he would not be able to do such a miracle." When Jesus meets him later and asks, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He declares, "Lord, I believe" and kneels before Him and worships Him. The man born blind undergoes a radical transformation after experiencing the healing touch of Jesus. Whereas the Pharisees, although they have physical vision, becomes more and more blind and lose their true vision. In this context St. Gregory of Palamas says, "While light is being given to this man (the man born blind) by the Light of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Pharisees show their own blindness and darkness in which they live by attacking this miracle. 

Conclusion: The story of the blind beggar has deep significance in our lives too. It symbolizes our faith journey: Our own personal story. We too like the man born blind are brought to faith. At first we see the Lord merely as a man called Jesus. Then we realize that He is a prophet. Then the realization comes that He has come from God. Finally we too need to recognize that He is the Saviour of our lives, the Son of God. 

May the Lord Jesus, who opened the eyes of the man born blind, bless you and open your eyes too to see the divine and experience His presence. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, March 15, 2026. Thanks.)

Third Sunday of Lent: A: March 8, 2026

 JESUS OFFERS LIFE-GIVING WATER

Introduction: We are in the third week of Lent. Today's liturgy focuses our attention on eternal life and the 'life-giving' water given by the Lord. First reading is from the book of Exodus. Israelites become agitated over the shortage of water during their long journey to the promised land. They speak against Moses and the Lord God. Hearing their cry, the Lord God commands Moses to strike a rock. On doing so, water gushes forth and they quench their thirst. The Lord God shows great mercy and kindness for the well-being of the people in spite of their rebellion. In the Gospel today, we have an unexpected scene: Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the Jacob's well and asks for water from her. She is confused and surprised by Jesus' request because Jews and Samaritans had a hostile relationship at that time. In their subsequent conversation, Jesus makes her realize that she is thirsting for transitory and worldly pleasures which are not going to satisfy her thirst. He promises her another type of water: The water that becomes a fountain from within so that a person experiences eternal life. During Lent Jesus wants each one of us to leave aside our transitory thirst and drink the water which gives eternal life. 

First Reading: Exodus 17: 3 to 7

Second Reading: Romans 5: 1 to 2 and 5 to 8

Gospel Reading: John 4: 5 to 42

   *First reading is from the book of Exodus. The journey of the chosen people of God from Egypt to the promised land is narrated. The journey is very tiring and tedious. On their way, they become agitated and angry with Moses because they have no water to drink for themselves and their cattle. They openly revolt and speak against Moses and the Lord God who brought them out of the slavery of Egypt. Seeing their desperation, the Lord God commands Moses to strike a rock with his walking stick. Moses does as told and immediately, water gushes out of the rock. All of them drink their fill of water. The Lord God shows His care and concern for the needs of His chosen people in spite of their ungrateful and rebellious behaviour. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to the Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community at Rome that God has proved His extraordinary love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we are still sinners. God's love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So God's grace as flowing water is poured down upon each one of us. 

Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the Jacob's well                                          Today's Gospel is from St. John. Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well is described in detail. In a most dramatic move, Jesus meets the woman and asks for some water to drink. The Samaritans and the Jews had a hostile relationship at that time. Jesus a Jew asking for water from a Samaritan woman is rather unusual. Yet, the woman after some initial hesitation gives water to Him. Jesus' encounter with the woman gradually changes her attitude to life situations. She shares with Him her sad story: Her confused and sinful past life. Gradually and gently, Jesus makes her realize what she has been running away from. Till now, she is addicted to transitory and worldly pleasures. Jesus tells her about another kind of water that becomes a fountain from within us leading to eternal life. Similarly, Jesus comes into our lives like a weary, thirsty traveller asking for some water. He makes in-roads into our lives as one who is helpless and who stands in need of us. What Jesus wants from us is more than water. He thirsts for our hearts. Like the Samaritan woman who brought many to Jesus,  we too ought to go to the surroundings and bring many to the promises of the Lord. In this context St. Gregory Palomas says, "The account of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well proves unexpectedly daily occurrences bring about lasting changes in life when Christ is the center of the experience." St. John Chrysostom says, "She ( the Samaritan woman) exhibited the actions of an Apostle, preaching the Gospel to all and calling them to Jesus and drawing a whole city forth to Him."

Conclusion: Without exception, all of us are looking for happiness and meaning in life. Often we are not able to reach the true life-giving water but rather, are happy with stagnant water. We go to the fountain of drinks, drugs, sex, material possessions and power to control others. We dream of five husbands (Samaritan woman in the Gospel) or five wives, five houses, five cars or five of whatever will satisfy our thirst for fulfillment. Unfortunately, none of these can satisfy us. True happiness can be ours only when we meet the Lord and experience His loving presence: The freedom that comes from following Him or the joy that comes from serving the least of His brothers and sisters. When we drink from the life-giving water that Jesus gives-the water of His Word in the Bible, the water of His Spirit in the sacraments, the water of His presence in prayer-we will never be thirsty. That day, the Samaritan woman went about bringing everyone in the city to Jesus. It is our turn to do the same. 

May the Lord Jesus, who liberated the Samaritan woman and blessed her by providing her life-giving water, bless you and grant you His Holy Spirit. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, March 8, 2026. Thanks.)