Death with resurrection hope is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent. 
In his vision, Ezekiel, in the first reading, bears witness to the reanimation of the dead Isreal in preparation for her retrn to the Promised Land. He assures his people that nothing, not even death will stop God from carrying out his promise. St. Paul, in the second reading, assures the early Roman Christians who were facing death by persecution, and us who are surrounded by a culture of death, that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and who dwells within us will give life to our mortal bodies. He considers the resurrection of Jesus the basis for our hope of sharing in Jesus' resurrection. For John, in today's gospel, the raising of Lazarus is the final and greatest sign of Jesus, the Deliverer, a symbolic narrative of his victory over death at the cost of his own life and a sign anticipating his resurrection. Describing this great miracle, the Church assures us that we, too, will be raised into eternal life after our battle with sin and death in this world. Thus resurrection hope is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent. The readings assure us that our faith in Jesus, who is "the resurrection and the life," promises our participation in resurrection and new life.

“Roll away the stone, unbind him and let him go.”    We often bind ourselves with chains of addiction to alcohol, drugs, sexual deviations, slander, gossip, envy, prejudices, hatred and uncontrollable anger and bury ourselves in the tombs of despair. Sometimes we are in the tomb of selfishness, filled with negative feelings such as worry, fear, resentment, hatred, and guilt.   If we want Jesus to visit our dark dungeons of sin, despair and unhappiness, let us ask Jesus during this Holy Mass to bring the light and the power of His Holy Spirit into our private life and liberate us from our tombs.  Are there times when we refuse to let God enter into our wallets, fearing that faithful tithing will endanger our savings?    When we receive the sacrament of reconciliation, Jesus will call our name and command, "Come out"! This is good news for all of us, “Lazarus, come out!” This can be the beginning of a new life.
2) We need to be ready to welcome death any time.  We live in a world that is filled with death.  We kill each other in acts of murder, abortion, euthanasia, execution, war and terrorist activities.  We kill ourselves through suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, overwork, stress, bad eating habits, and physical neglect.  The most important question is:  am I ready to face my death?  All of us know that we will surely die, but each of us foolishly thinks that he or she will not die any time in the near future.  Let us be wise, well-prepared and ever ready to meet our Lord with a clear conscience when the time comes.  
 

By notice of the Office of the General Secretary communication has been received from Most Reverend Christoph Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio, that the Secretariat of State of the Holy See has requested that all members of the faithful and other Christians are invited to participate in the special prayer of the Holy Father taking place in Saint Peter's Square this FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020. The Apostolic Nunciature further conveys that during this Statio orbis, which will be broadcast by Mondovision and streamed on the website of Vatican News (WWW.VATICANNEWS.VA) at 6:00 pm in Rome, 12 Noon (CST), the Holy Father will grant to all participants the Plenary Indulgence before imparting the Urbi et Orbi Blessing. The Apostolic Ninciaure has requested the assistance of the Conference in promoting this event though all means, especially social communications.

A few Anecdotes from Father Tony Kadavil for Lent 5
A sign of resurrection:  As Vice President, George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev’s widow.  She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed.  Then, just as the soldiers touched the lid, Brezhnev’s wife performed an act of great courage and hope, a gesture that must surely rank as one of the most profound acts of civil disobedience ever committed in Communist Russia: she made the sign of the cross on her husband’s chest.  There in the citadel of secular, atheistic power, the wife of the man who had run it all made a gesture suggesting that her husband had been wrong.  She hoped that there was another way of life – a life best represented by Jesus who died on the cross, and that this same Jesus might yet have mercy on her husband and raise him up on the Day of the Judgment.  In today's gospel, Martha expresses her faith in Jesus’ assurance of the resurrection of her brother Lazarus.
#2) Carrying a dead soul in a living body?  In Virgil, there is an account of an ancient king, who was so unnaturally cruel in his punishments that he used to chain a dead man to a living criminal.  It was impossible for the poor wretch to separate himself from his disgusting burden.  The carcass was bound fast to his body -- its hands to his hands; its face to his face; the entire dead body to his living body.  Then he was put into a dungeon to die suffocated by the foul emissions of the stinking dead body.  Many suppose that it was in reference to this that Paul cried out: "O wretched man that I am!"  Today’s readings invite us to turn away from sin, approach the sacrament of reconciliation and revive the dead soul we are carrying within our body,  thus becoming  eligible for the glorious resurrection Jesus promised to believers at the tomb of Lazarus.
#3) Good news – bad news joke: John and Jim were professional players with the Atlanta Braves who lived and breathed baseball. These guys breathed, discussed, ate, and slept baseball. One of their big concerns was whether there would be baseball in heaven. They loved baseball so much that they were not sure at all they wanted to spend eternity in heaven unless they could play baseball. They had an agreement that the first one who died would somehow get a message back to earth, letting the other know whether baseball was in heaven or not. Well, it happened. John died, and Jim grieved. He grieved for days - deeply saddened over his friend John’s death. About two weeks went by, and then it happened. Jim was awakened in the middle of the night by the calling of his name, “Jim, Jim, Jim, wake up! This is John.” “John, where are you?” “I’m in heaven - and I have some good news and bad news. It’s exciting, Jim. We do have baseball in heaven. It’s great. We play every day and there are marvelous teams, and tough, exciting competition.” “That’s great,” said Jim. “But what’s the bad news?” “Well,” said John, “You are scheduled to pitch next Tuesday.”