This song comes from the amazing story of the raising of Lazarus. Prior to the hopeful words, “I am the resurrection, I am the life; all who believe in me shall live,” we see a Jesus who weeps over the loss of his friend. True resurrection is preceded by sadness and death, even for Jesus.

While not a literal translation, the name Lazarus has been paraphrased to mean “God to the rescue!” Resurrection is far more than a bodily resuscitation. Resurrection is rescue from the many deaths that occur in our lives and all that would take us hostage. To embrace Jesus and his resurrection is to embrace hope. To embrace Jesus and his resurrection is to say loudly and clearly to the forces of sin and hate, “You will not prevail!”

The Lord’s voice had to be loud and piercing in order for Lazarus to hear it through the rock and many bandages as well as through the stench of death. The voice of Jesus promising resurrection is always trying to break through our own many barriers and tombs. At times, this voice is yelling “Come out!” to all of us bound by the bandages that have been imposed upon us, sometimes by our very selves.

Why is this refrain sung over and over again, almost relentlessly? Because we usually do not hear it or get it at first; sometimes we need to be hit over the head, so to speak. We need to keep telling ourselves over and over again, however unbelievable, that this Jesus is our resurrection from every kind of death that surrounds us. Let’s keep the song going in our heads and hearts, and hopefully, like Lazarus, we will be rescued and emerge rejoicing from our tombs.

On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we join with our RCIA candidates and elect in taking a closer look at ourselves. Let us pray silently for a moment, that all of us will be given a sense of sin, a spirit of repentance, and true freedom as children of God.

Let us all ask ourselves:

• What are the things that keep us entombed?

• How can we remove our many bandages and step into the light of day?

• What is Jesus trying to say to us as we move from bondage to
resurrection?

Let us pray:

Christ Jesus,
there are so many things
that break us down,
where hope seems lost,
and survival seems
at its end.

Come now,
and rise in us today.

Come now,
and help us to be a part
of your resurrection song.

Come now,
and rescue us
once and for all

Amen.