Welcome to "Know Before You Go" for the 5th Sunday of Lent. Join Father Brendan Curran, Dominican Promoter for Justice and Peace for North America, as he reflects on the powerful theme of "entombment" found in today's readings.
In this video, Fr. Brendan explores the story of the raising of Lazarus from the Gospel of John, but with a focus on social justice. He challenges us to look beyond the miracle itself and see the community's role. Jesus didn't just raise Lazarus; He commanded the community to "take away the stone" and "unbind him."
Fr. Brendan asks difficult questions: Who are the people we have "entombed" in our society today? From the immigrant to the formerly incarcerated, whom have we labeled and cast aside? This Lenten reflection calls us to stop seeing "them" and start seeing "us," urging us to participate in the work of unbinding our neighbors from injustice and division.
**đź“– Scripture Context:**
* **First Reading (Ezekiel):** God’s promise to open our graves and bring us home.
* **Second Reading (Romans):** Encouragement that the Spirit who raised Jesus lives in us.
* **Gospel (John 11):** The raising of Lazarus, where Jesus weeps and commands the community to act.
**🙏 Key Takeaways:**
* Jesus enters the "stark, cold reality" of our tombs and weeps with us.
* The miracle required community participation: rolling away the stone and unbinding Lazarus.
* A call to identify social "tombs": immigration issues, criminal justice labeling, and societal division.
* Moving from an "us vs. them" mentality to a collective "we."
**⏱️ Video Timeline:**
* 00:00 - Introduction & The Theme of the Tomb
* 00:45 - Ezekiel’s Promise: Opening the Graves
* 01:13 - Romans: Encouragement for a Fledgling Church
* 02:29 - The Gospel of John: Jesus Enters the Tomb
* 03:55 - Jesus Weeps: Solidarity with Human Suffering
* 05:37 - Who Are We Entombing in Society Today?
* 06:16 - From "Them" to "Us"
* 08:08 - The Command: "Take Away the Stone"
* 08:55 - The Command: "Unbind Him"
* 09:57 - Conclusion: Empowered to Act
**Hashtags:**
#5thSundayOfLent #RaisingOfLazarus #SocialJustice #CatholicSocialTeaching #FatherBrendanCurran #Dominicans #Lent2024 #UnbindHim #Immigration #JusticeAndPeace #GospelOfJohn #ChristianAction
