Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for March 26, 2023 (Lent 5A)

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Our readings change in tone this Sunday as we turn toward Palm Sunday and Holy Week. The metaphorical reflections on temptation, faith and sight that we have heard so far in Lent now move toward explicit ideas of victory over death through resurrection.

In our first reading, the prophet Ezekiel imagines a valley filled with dry bones: an eerie and alarming sight. In these poetic verses, God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy, and as he does so, the dry bones become connected, covered with skin, and then breathed to life as a vast multitude. Ezekiel’s prophetic vision reveals God’s promise to restore exiled Israel to its own land, the land that God had promised Moses and the people at Mount Sinai.

Psalm: Psalm 130

Psalm 130 may be most familiar for its use, under the Latin title “De Profundis” (“out of the depths”), as one of the Psalms that the Book of Common Prayer suggests for the burial of the dead. Its hopeful cadences remind us that even in times of grief, pain and despair, we wait in hope for God’s love and grace. Even in death we await the resurrection, as in night’s darkest hours we wait for morning light.

Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11

This passage from Paul’s Letter to the Romans offers a brief glimpse of his continuing examination of the distinctions between flesh and spirit. All of us – even Jesus, as fully human – live embodied lives. But, Paul goes on, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus have given us a new reality: When we accept God’s spirit within us through Jesus, we gain the hope of life, peace and resurrection.

Gospel: John 11:1-45

Why didn’t Jesus hurry back home when he got word that his friend Lazarus was ill? When he finally arrives, his friends Mary and Martha – devastated by the death of Lazarus their brother – confront Jesus separately with the same words: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus assures Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. … everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Then, when Mary weeps, Jesus weeps with her. And then he goes to the tomb and raises Lazarus from the dead. The crowd looking on is amazed. But the verses that follow immediately after this passage reveal that the priests and temple authorities, fearful that Jesus’ bold acts will bring Roman retribution, decide that Jesus must die.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for March 29, 2020

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14


As we watch from worried isolation in a time of social distancing, Holy Week and Easter are drawing near. This week’s readings begin to tantalize our spirits with promises of victory over death through resurrection.

Last week we walked with God through the valley of the shadow of death. Sunday we will remember the prophet Ezekiel’s musing on another valley, this one full of dry bones. Then in the Gospel we will go to Lazarus’ stone tomb. First, Ezekiel’s vision, an eerie and frightening sight. Was this the scene of a battle? A massacre? Through God’s power the dry bones are restored to life, revealing God’s promise to restore Israel from exile in its own land.

Psalm: Psalm 130

Psalm 130 is one of the half-dozen psalms explicitly suggested for use in the liturgy for burial of the dead. Familiarly known as “De Profundis” (“out of the depths”), its solemn cadences remind us that even when we are lost in deep grief, pain, and despair, our souls wait in hope for God’s love and grace. Even in death we await the resurrection. We wait “more than watchmen for the morning,” the Psalmist sings, as in night’s darkest hours we watch for the first morning light.

Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11


The short second reading gives us a quick look at Paul’s evolving understanding of the difference between flesh and spirit. All of us live embodied lives, and that even includes Jesus, who lived as fully human as us. But Paul sees the flesh as subject to death and ultimately displeasing to God, while the spirit of God living in us leads us to eternal life through righteousness. When we accept God’s spirit dwelling within us through the action of Jesus, Paul says, we gain the hope of life, peace and resurrection.

Gospel: John 11:1-45


Jesus’ dear friends, Mary and Martha, devastated by the death of their brother Lazarus, each confront Jesus in turn with the words, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” To bold, brash Martha, Jesus utters the beloved words, “I am the resurrection and the life. … everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Then, when he sees quiet Mary crying, Jesus simply weeps. And then he calls Lazarus back from death. But there’s more to this story. Jesus thanks God that the amazed crowd that witnessed Lazarus rising will now believe that Jesus is the Messiah. But then, in the verses that follow today’s reading, things take an ominous turn as John’s Gospel pivots toward the Passion and the Cross: The temple authorities, fearful about the uproar that Jesus is causing, decide that he must die.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for April 2, 2017

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Our readings change in tone this Sunday as Holy Week and Easter draw near. We turn from metaphorical reflections on temptation, faith and sight toward explicit ideas of victory over death through resurrection. The prophet Ezekiel imagines a valley filled with dry bones, an eerie and alarming sight. In poetic verses, God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy, and as he does so, the dry bones become connected, covered with skin, and then breathed to life as a vast multitude. Ezekiel’s prophetic vision reveals God’s promise to restore Israel from exile in its own land.

Psalm 130

This is one of the half-dozen psalms explicitly suggested for use in the liturgy for burial of the dead. Familiarly known as “De Profundis” (“out of the depths”), its solemn cadences remind us that even when we are lost in deep grief, pain, and despair, our souls wait in hope for God’s love and grace. Even in death we wait, “more than watchmen for the morning,” for the new morning light of resurrection and redemption from our sins.

Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11

Today’s short second reading gives us a quick look at Paul’s understanding of the difference between flesh and spirit. All of us live embodied lives, and that even includes Jesus, who lived as fully human like us. But Paul sees the flesh as subject to death and ultimately displeasing to God, while the spirit of God living in us leads us to eternal life through righteousness. When we accept God’s spirit within us through Jesus, Paul says, we gain the hope of life, peace and resurrection.

Gospel: John 11:1-45

Why didn’t Jesus hurry back home when he got word that his friend Lazarus was ill? Mary and Martha, devastated by the death of Lazarus their brother, each confront Jesus separately with identical words: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus assures Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. … everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Then, when Mary weeps, Jesus weeps, too. And then he raises Lazarus from the dead. The people are amazed. But the verses that follow today’s Gospel reveal that the priests and temple authorities, fearful that Jesus’ bold acts will bring Roman retribution, decide that Jesus has to die; and John’s Gospel turns toward the Passion and the Cross.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, April 6, 2014

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14
As Holy Week and Easter draw near, this week’s readings begin to tantalize our spirits with promises of victory over death through resurrection. Listen to the poetry of the Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, an eerie and frightening sight. Was this the scene of a battle? A massacre? Through God’s power the dry bones are restored to life; God’s promise of resurrection offers us hope of eternal life.

Psalm: Psalm 130
This Psalm may be most familiar for its use, under the Latin title “De Profundis” (“out of the depths”), as one of the Psalms recommended for the burial of the dead in the Book of Common Prayer. It reminds us that in times of grief, pain and despair, we wait in hope for God’s love and grace. Even in death we await the resurrection, as in night’s darkest hours we wait for morning light.

Second Reading: Romans 8:6-11
This reading offers just a glimpse of Paul’s extended examination of the distinctions between flesh and spirit. All of us – even Jesus, as fully human – live embodied lives. But Jesus’s life, death and resurrection have given us a new reality: When we accept God’s spirit within us through Jesus, we gain the hope of life, peace and resurrection.

Gospel: John 11:1-45
Jesus’ dear friends, Mary and Martha, devastated by the death of their brother Lazarus, each confront him in turn with the words, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” To bold, brash Martha, Jesus offers the promise, “I am the resurrection and the life. … everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” When he sees quiet Mary crying, though, Jesus simply weeps. And then he calls Lazarus back from death. But there’s more to this story. Jesus thanks God that the amazed crowd that witnessed Lazarus rising will now believe that Jesus is the Messiah. But, in the verses that follow today’s reading, things take an ominous turn: The temple authorities, fearful about the uproar that Jesus is causing, decide that he has to die.