• HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • History
    • Dominican Spirituality
    • Life and Mission
    • Associates
      • Ireland
      • South Africa
      • Associates Stories
        • Mary Mc Crae
        • Niamh Smith
        • Janice Mc Garry
    • Dominican Saints
      • Saint Dominic
      • Thomas Aquinas
      • Saint Catherine
      • Fra Angelico
      • St. Agnes of Montepulciano
      • St. John Macias
      • A poem for Jubilee Year
    • Books
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Ecology
      • An Tairseach- Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre
      • 2020 – Programme of events
    • Justice
    • Education
      • Dominican Ethos in Schools
      • Secondary Schools ROI
      • Secondary Schools NI
      • Primary Schools
      • Special Schools
      • Third Level
      • Lumen Dominican Centre Sion Hill
        • Lumen Dominican Centre
    • Sacred Preaching Space
    • Ecumenism
    • Pastoral Care
    • Other Ministries
  • WHERE WE ARE
    • Ireland
    • North America – Louisiana
    • Latin America
    • South Africa
    • Portugal
      • Archives
  • VOCATIONS
    • Becoming a Dominican Sister
    • Vocation Stories
      • Sr Margaret MacCurtain OP
      • Sr Bridget O’Driscoll OP
      • Sr Elizabeth Clifford OP
      • Sr Francis Cosgrove OP
      • Sr. Aedris Coates OP
      • Sr. Margaret Kelly OP
      • Sr. Joan O’Donovan OP
      • Sr Sabine Schratz OP
      • Sr. Liz Smyth OP
      • Sr. Eileen O’Connell
      • Sr. Edel Murphy OP
      • Sr. Kathleen Fitzsimons OP
      • Sr. Paul Cloete OP
      • Sr Athanasius Melican OP
      • Sr. Rose McLarnon OP
      • Sr. Eileen McCarthy OP
    • Vocations
  • NEWS
    • Church TV
    • Photo Gallery
  • SAFEGUARDING
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
    • Child Safeguarding Statement
    • Contact Details
  • CONTACT
    • GDPR
    • Data Retention and Erasure Policy
    • Privacy Notice
    • Web Privacy Statement
    • User Agreement
    • Cookie Policy
facebook
twitter

Recent

04
APR
2014

Fifth Sunday of Lent

by : Elizabeth Ferguson OP
comment : 0

Two weeks before we celebrate the Resurrection, we are faced, in today’s readings, with the question of resurrection. We know from the Gospels, that in Jesus’ time, this was not a totally accepted concept. Pharisees and Sadducees disagreed about it and even used it as a test case to ensnare Jesus.

Ezekiel is commanded by God to prophesy to the people with the offer of new life. The rising from the graves, whether physical or allegorical, and being enlivened with the breath of God, is a powerful image of the restoration of life.

John relates the calling forth of Lazarus from the tomb, even though he was already dead for four days. The text gives some specific reason for this act. The raising of Lazarus is for God’s glory, and also that the Son of God might be glorified through it. When Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus is dead, he adds that he is glad he was not there, because what is about to happen will help their faith. Before he calls Lazarus to come out, Jesus offers a prayer of thanks to God for hearing him. Then he adds that he knows God always hears him, but that he has said this prayer so that all the people present might believe that he has been sent by God.

One of Martha’s roles in this story is to lead us on a faith journey through her own professions. Martha’s four professions of faith in Jesus are specific. – The first was in the power of Jesus to save. She truly believed that if Jesus had been there her brother would not have died. His presence would have made all the difference. – The second profession was in the loving relationship that Jesus had with God. She knew that God would grant Jesus whatever he might ask. – The third confession is in the resurrection on the last day. Martha is clear on where she stands on that question. – All these acts of faith lead her to her own surety about Jesus. When Jesus asks her if she believes that everyone who believes in him will never die, she responds with her fourth profession. “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one that is coming into the world.”      And so the story leads us to ponder what we believe. We can all claim ‘resurrection moments’ in our lives, communally and individually. We all experience the new life of spring coming from the depths of the earth. But the issue of the Gospel is deeper than that. It is the question we face in the loss of someone. It is the question we face when we ponder our own mortality or immortality. It is the ultimate end question.resurrection sunday

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he/she dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”   Last week my cousin buried her husband, whose death came rather quickly and unexpectedly. In her grief and struggle she said to me, “I know I will see him again. Well, isn’t that what we believe?”

Elizabeth Ferguson, OP

About the Author

Social Share

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

captcha *

Advent Calendar' - a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP

December 14, 2020

In Memory Of Our Deceased Sisters November 19-November 2020

November 29, 2020

RE OPENING OF OUR DOMINICAN EDUCATION CENTRE, DUBLIN

August 09, 2020
  • Posts
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • Their community lost 13 members to Covid. These Felician sisters still found God in the pandemic.
  • Catholic Schools Week 24th – 31st January 2021 (Ireland) ‘Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith and Resilience’.
  • Powerful words of Amanda Gorman
  • LUMEN DOMINICAN CENTRE Spring 2021 Programme
  • Link to the An Tairseach, Wicklow, Country Wide programme RTE 1
  • Advent Calendar’ – a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP
  • In Memory Of Our Deceased Sisters November 19-November 2020
  • WALK OF LIGHT 2020
  • Ecumenical Resource on Climate Justice – Irish Council of Churches
  • Biblical Perspectives On Justice – Cork Scripture Group,  Autumn 2020 Bible Study Module
  • An Tairseach (29)
  • Dominican Associates (3)
  • Dominican News (250)
  • Education (63)
  • Events (77)
  • Good News (68)
  • Highlights (24)
  • Home Page Slider (18)
  • Ireland (80)
  • Justice (67)
  • Latin America (29)
  • Louisiana (17)
  • News (393)
  • Our Regions (8)
  • Poems (5)
  • Portugal (14)
  • Prayers (13)
  • Proclaiming (5)
  • Professions (4)
  • Reflections (11)
  • Rest Of The World (5)
  • Sacred Space (4)
  • South Africa (22)
  • Stories (20)
  • Uncategorized (276)
  • Vatican II- Remembering (7)
  • Vocations (14)
  • Women Preachers (11)
Dominican Women South Africa Reflection Vatican II Mission and Ministry God An Tairseach Baptism Art Chaplain Hello Logo Pauline Hospital Portugal Louisiana Ireland Mindfulness in Education Froebel College of Education The Woman at the Well Lay participation in Parish Life Compassion illness RIP Rest In Peace Mary Magdalen Spring

Twitter

  • RT @BA_McShane: Join me in conversation with Alan Hayes of @ArlenHouse on Saturday to pay tribute to the late, great Dr Margaret MacCurtain… 49 days ago
  • RT @rogerchilds2u: @sinead_mccoole @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnslibrary @ArlenHouse Thank you for such an elegant, touching and… 108 days ago
  • RT @sinead_mccoole: Dr Margaret MacCurtain's life spanned 9 decades, 1000s of lives were enriched @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnsl… 108 days ago

Search Our Site

Recent Posts

  • Their community lost 13 members to Covid. These Felician sisters still found God in the pandemic.
  • Catholic Schools Week 24th – 31st January 2021 (Ireland) ‘Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith and Resilience’.
  • Powerful words of Amanda Gorman
  • LUMEN DOMINICAN CENTRE Spring 2021 Programme
  • Link to the An Tairseach, Wicklow, Country Wide programme RTE 1

Dominican Links

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Dominican Contemplative Nuns at the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena
  • Order of Preachers
  • Dominican Friars
  • AMRI
  • Lay Dominicans Ireland

Our Ministries

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Contemplative Outreach
  • Irish Archives Resource
  • Dominican Sisters International

Contact Us

  1. Name *
    * Please enter your name
  2. Email *
    * Please enter a valid email address
  3. Message *
    * Please enter message
Copyright © 2020 Dominican Sisters Cabra. All Rights Reserved. Please click GDPR Information.
Web DesignbyOrbit Technologies
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok