2026/03/22 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Fifth Sunday of Lent
- Erika Wenson, Communications Associate
What beautiful encouragement we receive from each of the readings this Sunday! Laced all throughout the first reading, second reading, the psalm and the Gospel is God’s power, mercy, divine healing, and restoration of hope. In the first reading, God promises that he will “open the graves” of the Israelites and bring them back to life, foreshadowing Christ’s own death and resurrection that brings all believers, Jews and Gentiles alike, into everlasting life. Our Psalm emphasizes God’s Mercy and redemption, which we have been leaning into understanding that mercy and receiving it all throughout the Lenten season. Although the Gospel is one of the best because it shows the pinnacle of Christ’s power to raise Lazarus from the dead, I am struck by the second reading which comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans.
It’s in the context of this passage that my own faith is strengthened. While I love hearing about the magnificent miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus, I am encouraged by Paul’s words:
“But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit dwelling in you.”
What encouragement! What power! What hope! The same power Jesus used to raise Lazarus and cause himself to raise on the third day lives inside all who believe and live the Christian life. The name of that power is the Holy Spirit, and what a gift it is for us! I was talking with a friend recently about the power of the Holy Spirit and she said that “The Holy Spirit is an underrated third part of the Trinity” and I couldn’t agree more. Something about it not being visible (or a person we can attribute to like Jesus) can often make it hard to grasp and understand.
For us to get a better understanding of how the Holy Spirit works, I want to offer some practical tips on how you can recognize the Holy Spirit that lives in you so you can connect more to it. The first is reading my Bible more regularly. I know it can be intimidating to start, so I recommend starting at the Gospel of John or listening to the Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz, who breaks down the Bible into 15–20-minute sessions each day. I guarantee his energy and enthusiasm will have you wanting to tune in.
The next is to make time for Adoration. I try putting it in my calendar at least once a month. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt God’s voice speaking to me from the Holy Spirit clearer than ever than when I sit in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Journaling
helps too. Start by laying your burdens down on paper and pause in silence to hear the Lord talking back. I can usually tell when a response comes from God when I know it’s not something I would say or the response doesn’t line up with my human tendency to solve a problem. Shia LaBeouf even shared in a recent interview that his ‘Holy Spirit voice’ sounds like a loving voice in contrast to his weak human monologue. Some of the guideposts of my life have come from listening to that still, comforting voice during Adoration.
Both of these practices have transformed my relationship with God and emboldened me to live my faith out to fearlessly share the Good News with my friends and family. And if that transformation can happen for me, it certainly can happen this Lent for you too! Ultimately, the best encouragement comes from Paul telling us that our spirit lives on forever through Christ Jesus, which should be a great comfort to us to know that death truly has been defeated- and we get to celebrate that in just a few short weeks.