SAINT JOHN OF GOD PARISH 84 Carleton Avenue * Central Islip, New York 11722 Phone: 234-6535 * Fax: 234-7474 * Email: [email protected] Website: www.stjohnofgodparish.org

Rev. Christopher Nowak, Pastor Pastoral Staff Rev. Humberto Contreras, Associate Pastor Sr. Valerie Scholl, CSJ, Pastoral Associate / Admin. Dcn. Ronald J. Gillette Sr. Claudia Allen, CSJ, Apostolado Hispano Dcn. Frank Gariboldi Mrs. Maggie Martin, Religious Education Mrs. Patricia Walsh, Cemetery Secretary Mrs. Ana Sullivan, Parish Social Ministry Coordinator Mrs. Eleanor Gould, Music Ministry

Parish Center: 234-6535 Apostolado Hispano Religious Education: 234-4040 234-6535 x 106 Outreach Office: 234-1884 Cemetery Office: 234-6535 x135 Equipo Pastoral Que Habla Español

Parish Office Hours: Rev. Christopher Nowak, Pastor Monday – Friday: 9AM – 4:30 PM Rev. Humberto Contreras, Pastor Asociado Sunday: 9 AM – 2 PM Hna. Claudia Allen, CSJ (Mass Cards) Sra. Ana Sullivan, Ministerio Social Emergency Sick Calls Any Time

Sunday Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil: 5 PM Chapel Misas En Español Sunday: 8 AM Church Sábado: 7:00 PM Capilla 9:30 AM Church Domingo: 9:30 AM Capilla 11:00 AM Chapel 12:30 PM Capilla Martes: 7:30 PM Capilla Weekday Masses Monday – Saturday: 9 AM Church Sacramentos Devotions Miraculous Medal Novena: Bautizos en Español: Monday at 9 AM Mass 2ndo y 4tro Domingo de cada mes, 2 PM Los padres de los niños deben ir a la oficina antes de inscribirlos. Llame 234-6535 x 106 Sacraments para una cita. Confesiones: Los sábados a las 4:00 PM Reconciliation: Saturday at 4:00 PM in the Church Primera Comunión y Confirmación: or by appointment. Please call the Parish Center. Niños de 6 hasta los 17años deben asistir a las clases de Educación Religiosa de acuerdo a su edad. Llame: 234-4040 Baptism: 1st and 3rd Sunday at 2 PM. Parents must register Sacramentos Para Los Adultos: at the Parish Center at least 1 month before the baptism. (18 años en adelante) Llame 234-6535 x 106 para más información. Las clases para los adultos son los domingos a las Marriage: Those wishing to be married must make arrangements 11 AM. at least 6 months in advance. Call the Parish Center. Matrimonio: Inscribirse 6 meses antes de la fecha de al boda. Llame: 234- 6535 para hablar con un miembro del Equipo Pastoral que habla español.

Our Lady of Providence Regional School Nuestra Señora de la Providencia Escuela Católica Pre-K (4 yrs.) through 8th Grade Pre-K (4 años) hasta 8vo grado 234-1113 or 234-6324 234-1113 o 234-6324 www.olprov.org www.olprov.org Principal: Mrs. JoAnn DiNardo Principale: Mrs. JoAnn DiNardo April 10, 2011  Fifth Sunday of Lent Mass Intentions for the Week of April 10th: STEWARDSHIP 2011 Monday – 9:00AM – Geraldine Clavin Tuesday – 9:00AM – Mary & Joseph McDonough GIVE GLORY TO GOD Wednesday – 9:00AM – Julia Espinoza On the Fifth Thursday – 9:00AM – In Honor of B.V.M. Sunday of Lent, just Friday – 9:00AM – In Honor of St. Jude before we begin to Saturday – 9:00AM – Maria LaVecchia enter Holy Week, we – 5:00PM – Joseph Shea are summoned to Sunday – 8:00AM – Those Enrolled in the Bethany. If we had Society of Prayer been friends of Mary, – 9:30AM – Patrick & Lucy Halloran Lazarus, and Martha, – 11:00AM – People of St. John of God and found out that Lazarus was gravely READINGS FOR THE WEEK ill, we probably would have dropped Monday, April 11th – everything to be with them. This was what was so Saint Stanislaus, bishop & martyr surprising about the behavior of Jesus. Although he Dn 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62; Jn 8:1-11 was their close friend, he chose to stay away, that God’s glory would be manifested. This is a 9:00AM – Daily Mass – persistent theme in John’s Gospel. Right to the very Tuesday, April 12th – end, Jesus’ works were meant to give glory to the Nm 21:4-9; Jn 8:21-30 Father. As our Lenten journey reaches a crescendo, let us be mindful that, as people who have “put on 9:00AM – Daily Mass Christ” in baptism, we are also called, by our 7:30PM – Misa en Español – (Capilla) attitudes and actions, to give glory to God.

Wednesday, April 13th – CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LORD Saint Martin I, pope & martyr Dn 3:14-20,91-92,95; Jn 8:31-42 Collection Report for April 3, 2011

Budgeted 9:00AM – Daily Mass – Weekly Actual: Sunday: Collection: $ 8115.50 Thursday, April 14th – $ 8,000— Catholic Relief: Gn 17:3-9; Jn 8:51-59 $8,500 $1,922.00 THANK YOU! 9:00AM – Daily Mass – MASS ATTENDANCE Friday, April 15th – 5:00PM (English) — 164 Jer 20:10-13; Jn 10:31-42 7:00PM (Spanish) — 133 8:00AM (English) — 96 9:00 AM – Daily Mass – 9:30AM (English) — 114 Saturday, April 16th – 9:30AM (Spanish) — 387 Ez 37:21-28; Jn 11:45-56 11:00AM (English) — 214 12:30PM (Spanish) — 383 9:00 AM – Daily Mass 5:00 PM – Vigil Mass Restoring the Glory…. 7:00 PM – Misa en Español to welcome…to worship… Sunday, April 17th – Palm Sunday of to grow…to serve… the Lord’s Passion Mt 21:1-11; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14—27:66 GIFTS OF TREASURE SHARED 8:00AM – Mass – English – (Church) 9:30AM – Mass – English – (Church) Pledge Report: $1,291,799.75 9:30AM – Misa en Español – (Capilla) Total Paid to Date: $ 1,157,171.75 11:00AM – Mass – English – (Chapel) Balance: $ 134,628.00 12:30PM – Misa en Español – (Capilla) WE ARE SAINT JOHN OF GOD PARISH - COMMITTED TO FAITH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY!

Bread & Wine Memorial for This Week: In Loving Memory Of:

Gracy Campbell Requested By: Palm Sunday – April 17, 2011 Kitchie Deenihan Vigil Mass – Chapel 5 PM (Eng.) & 7 PM (Esp.) English Masses: 8 AM and 9:30 AM-Church Remember in your thoughts and prayers, 11 AM – Chapel Misas en español: 9:30 AM-Capilla, the Sick of the Parish... 12:30 PM –Capilla and 12:30PM –Iglesia Joseph Acciarito Mike Meola, Sr. Jacob Aceiedo Josh Mouzakes Monday, April 18, 2011 Angelo Cristiano Liz Mouzakes Day of Reconciliation Helen Boeke Carmen Ramos Priest available for Confessions William Campbell Janette D. Reilly in Church from 3 – 9 PM Russell Carter Grabiel Rivera Sandy Comito George Santiago Holy Thursday – April 21, 2011 Gerri Eshun John Santiago 9:00 AM – Church: Morning Prayer Marie Ferdon Marie Shay 8:00 PM-Chapel: Mass of the Lord’s Supper Ron Gillette II Linda Smith (Bilingual) Carol Hemmerich Stanley Tesoro Adoration in the Church until Midnight Catherine Hennessy George Tintugo Elaine O’Mara Hulbert Louis Vavosa Good Friday – April 22, 2011 Karen Kelly Joseph Vereline,Jr. 9:00 AM – Church -Morning Prayer Eileen Lamanna Mary Weber 10:00 AM-Via Crucis en Vivo Kathleen Lamanna Barbara Warfield Church & Chapel are open Eddie Linz Timmy Warfield from Noon to 3 PM Gerolyn Diaz Martinez Barbara Zarcone for Private Prayer. Judith McEvoy 3 PM-Chapel: The Lord’s Passion and Communion (Eng.) 8:00 PM-Chapel: La Pasión del Señor y Comunión (Español) Healthy Sunday 8:00 PM-Church: Tenebrae Service (English) April 10, 2011 Holy Saturday – April 23, 2011 (This Sunday) 9:00 AM-Church: Morning Prayer 8:00 PM-Chapel: Easter Vigil (Bilingual) 9AM to 12:30PM There will be no 5 PM nor 7 PM Mass on Holy Saturday. Offering education and information for your health and well-being Easter Sunday – April 24, 2011 English Masses: FREE BLOOD PRESSURE 8 AM and 9:30 AM– Church AND DIABETES SCREENINGS 11:00 AM – Chapel Misas en español: Our Lady of Providence School 9:30AM –Capilla Cafeteria 12:30 PM –Capilla 12:30 PM – Iglesia *Refreshments will be served*

631-465-6304 Religious Education Office Mrs. Maggie Martin, Director Telephone: 631-234-4040-Email: [email protected] Office hours for week of April 10: “The Passion Narratives” All are welcome to join us as we break open Monday, April 11 1:00pm – 6:00pm sacred scripture and reflect on the Passion of Jesus Tuesday, April 12 11:30am – 7:00pm Christ. Two sessions will be offered in order to Wednesday, April 13 1:00pm – 7:00pm accommodate all that would like to make this a part Thursday, April 14 4:00pm – 7:00pm of their personal observance of Lent. Friday, Apr. 15 CLOSED Contact Maggie Martin at 234-4040 to register. Saturday, Apr. 16: 10:00am – 12:30pm Monday evenings from 5:30pm – 6:45pm Sunday, April. 17: CLOSED Discussion & video in the School Library (March 28, April 5 & 12) OR Schedule of Classes: Week of April 10: Tuesday mornings from 9:45am – 11:00am Mon., Apr. 11: Level 8 7:00 – 8:15pm Discussion & video in the Chapel (March 29, April 6 & 12) RCIC 7:00 – 8:00pm Last Session Fifth Week (Level 8 Teen Team will Jesus Carries the Cross begin meeting again Read Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, on May 23) Luke 23:26-32, John 19: 16-17 The discussion will include:

Wed., Apr. 13: Levels 1 – 7 These passages are much shorter than the 4:45 – 6:00pm previous sessions, yet the message is so Last Session powerful. Why does Jesus so clearly embrace the cross? Sat., Apr. 16: Levels 1 – 7 What does this say about the sin of mankind & Miss Sandy and God’s love for us? 8:30–9:45am/ Although the Stations of the Cross are 10:30–11:45am depicted, and relived in the Catholic Last Session Church especially in Lent, they are not found in the Gospels. How do you think Beginning Monday, April 11, we will that tradition came to be a part of the be accepting NEW registrations for the popular Church culture? Fall, and registration for “The Road to “The Acts of the Apostles” Emmaus Faith Camp” which takes In the Easter Season, Maggie Martin will place July 11-22, 2011 from 9:00am – offer a scripture study course on “The 12:00 pm. Registrations will take Acts of the Apostles”. It has been place only during posted office hours. suggested that we offer this 5 week course

If your child is already enrolled in leading up to Pentecost on Tuesdays, Religious Education, they will be beginning May 10, , from 10:00 – 11:15am. If interested, please contact automatically re-registered for the Maggie Martin at 234-4040 to pre-

2011/2012 year. register.. TV STARS Mrs. Wolter, Jessica Jimenez, and Francesca Miranda were featured on the Telecare Telephone: 234-6324 program Total Praise. Visit us at: www.olprov.org Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students Mrs. Jo Ann DiNardo, Principal had worked on various projects in Social Studies to highlight the men and woman in A Piece of Providence our country’s history who worked to secure Registration the freedoms we have today. The issues of Registration for new families is now open. If immigration and civil rights were presented you would like to register, please call the in the study of American heroes, African school at 234-6324 to schedule a tour. American poets, and the many ethnic groups who have settled here to find a EVERY DAY CAN BE AN OPEN HOUSE better life. Come and see all of the wonderful things happening at Our Lady of FUNDRAISING - -SHOP TIL’ YOU DROP! Providence Regional school! There are many ways to help Our Visit and our students will take you Lady of Providence just by shopping! Visit our School Store at http:// for a tour of the school! olprov.propell.com to see some items you IPADS IN SCHOOL can purchase as class souvenirs -Lastly, Teachers are being trained in using the iPad register at Box Tops for Education market- in the classroom. Through the generous gift place and shop at over 100 great stores! of Monsignor Simmons, OLOP has purchased Please register at Stop and Shop 30 iPads to bring learning into the 21st (www.stopandshop.com/aplus) so the Century. We are planning to use them after store will give us a percentage of the money you spend on groceries. You do not pay the Easter vacation. any EXTRA money but they will give the PAINTED PRAYERS school a donation based on sales. Just go to April 1st Art Exibit www.stopandshop.com/aplus put in your Some of our 7th and 8th grade students have information and your Stop and Shop card painted pictures of the Blessed Mother that number. It is so easy! were included in the April 1st exhibit at St. Martin de Porres in Uniondale. Box Tops for Education & Campbell We congratulate these students – Soup Labels & Empty Inkjets. Nzinga Alfred, Sue Farfan, Kaitlin Phillips, Please place the above Lilibeth Contreras, Gianina Silva-Negron, items in the collection Gabriella Ambroise, and Danielle Jentsch— basket or drop them off at for the beautiful pictures they created! the Parish Office. Box Tops for Education are many products Please AID FOR JAPAN check your purchases for the box tops. Teachers and students are offering their We also collect Labels for Education. prayers and making small sacrifices to We get 10cents for each Box Top Coupon. collect money to send to the people of With your help, we have received over Japan who have suffered such great losses. $4,600.00 since we started collecting. We remember them in our morning prayers Thank you for your continued support. It each day. is greatly appreciated. Society of St. Vincent de Paul PARISH OUTREACH OFFICE Telephone: 234-1884 234-6535, ext. 103 Ana Sullivan, Coordinator

The Gospel today challenges us to see and believe the signs of grace Reminder in our lives: joy, peace, Catholic Health Service forgiveness, mercy and kindness. FREE Blood pressure and Diabetes screenings Jesus promises that “whoever lives TODAY – 9AM to 12:30PM and believes in me will never die.” We see Our Lady of Providence School Cafeteria the dying of our everyday lives—the pain, suffering, death, sinfulness, discipline, giving up our wills. We are challenged to see and Our FOOD PANTRY believe the signs of the grace of new life—joy, is very low or out of the following items: peace, forgiveness, mercy, trust and -Oatmeal -Cereal -Rice (1 or 2Lb.Bag) kindness. The “already” of eternal life is -Canned Potatoes --Canned Fruit God’s grace “already” working in our lives. -Pasta Sauce (24oz) -Tomato Sauce Accept the challenge of this Lenten -Canned Vegetables (Small Cans) season and join the Society of St. Vincent de - Canned Potatoes -Jelly -Tuna Paul. Our next meeting is Tuesday, April -Pancake Mix & Syrup -Soap 19th at 12:30pm in the Conference Room Thank you for your continued generosity in keeping of the Parish Center. Join us and bring the signs of grace in your live to others. our shelves from going bare. OUTREACH AND FOOD PANTRY

Help Available For Families

Are you or someone you love DRINKING too much? ATLANTIC CITY Are DRUGS causing FAMILY problems? resorts CASINO Catholic Charities’ Talbot House, for males and females over the age of 18, is a crisis center for th withdrawal from alcohol and/or drugs. Each call is April 25 confidential. Each person who is eligible for Talbot (Monday) House services is evaluated individually, by phone and/or appointment. The medical and clinical staff helps to determine the kind of care the person needs, Departs: 9:00AM to begin his/her journey to recovery. For more information, please call: 631-589-4144. Talbot House (CIFD West Parking Lot) staff can assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a Donation: $37.00 per person week. NO fees are necessary. The only requirement is the desire to be "clean and sober." $22.00 Casino Return Thrift Store Hours Must be 21 Years or Our thrift store is opened on Sundays from Older 10:00 A.M to 2:00 PM Monday and Thursday: 10 AM – 2 PM Tickets or Information: Monday and Thursday: 6 PM to 7:15 PM Irene Miller at 234-8593 Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 AM to 2 PM Food Pantry Hours Benefit For: Monday and Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon From Father Chris: Mark Your Calendar Your Favorite and Most Meaningful Prayer, Here in the Bulletin to Share.  April 13th — OLOP Science Fair – Large & Small Cafeteria – All Day & Evening Prayers:  April 16th — Vigil of Palm Sunday – My Prayer for Thursday: Masses in Chapel: 5:00PM English Lord, thank You for another day 7:00PM Spanish within this life of mine. Give me the strength to live it well,  April 17th — Palm Sunday – See Mass Schedule in the bulletin whatever I may find. Bestow from Your abundance  April 18th — Day of Reconciliation – whatever I may lack. Priest available for Confession in Church To use the hours wisely, From 3:00PM to 9:00PM. for I cannot have them back. Lord, thank You for another day,  April 19th — Society of St. Vincent de in which to make amends Paul Monthly Meeting—12:30PM in the Conference Rm. of the Parish Center. All welcome. for little slights or petty words, inflicted on my friends.  May 9th, 10th, 11th — Parish Mission For sometimes losing patience with Father Cedric See information in this with problems that I find. bulletin. Please join us and bring a friend. For seeing faults in others lives, but not the ones in mine. Lord, thank You for another chance, in which to try to be a little more deserving Night at the Races of the gifts You’ve given me. For yesterday is over, th and tomorrow’s far way, April 29 (Friday) and I remain committed to the good I do today! 6:00PM (Food) CHOIR Rehearsal SCHEDULES:

Adult Choir Wednesday 7:00PM (Post Time) 7:30PM in the Chapel: April 13th May 25th Shipboard Style Races April 20th June 1st April 27th June 8th May 4th June 15th May 11th** June 22nd May 8th Knights of Columbus Hall Children’s Choir Thursday 62 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip 7:00-8:00PM in the Chapel April 14th May 12th Cost: $ 15.00 per person April 21st** May 19th April 28th May 26th May 1st Sing June 2nd For information, call: 348-3507 May 5th June 5th Sing Sponsored by and proceeds go to: ** NO REHEARSAL Knights of Columbus Council #1816

April 14th (Thursday)—7:00PM All are welcome: to a Catholic Seder Meal in the small cafeteria. It is the Passover Meal our Lord celebrated and changed the Meal into his Last Supper which we know as the Eucharist in the small Cafeteria

14 de abril (Jueves)—7:00PM Todos están Bienvenidos: a Una Cena Pascual Judía en la cafetería pequeña. Vengan a participar en la Cena que Jesucristo convirtió a su Ultima Cena Y que sabemos como La Eucaristía Annual Super Raffle & Cocktail Party July 8th, 2011 – 7:30PM Knights of Columbus Hall, 62 Carleton Av., C.I. Tickets ($100.00 each)

325 tickets will be sold Our Annual Super Raffle Tickets are now on sale in the Parish Office. Get your lucky number before someone else gets it. Last year we sold all 325 tickets. Please help us do the same this year. You can either take the entire ticket yourself or split it with a relative or friend or divide it up as many ways as you would like. Don’t forget to ask your relatives, co-workers, friends or neighbors, they might want a chance to win $10,000.00.

Súper Rifa Y Fiesta de Cóctel

8 de Julio, 2010 – 7:30PM Salón de Los Caballeros de Colón 62 Carleton Avene, C.I.

Boletos ($100.00 cada uno) Boletos para el Súper Rifa están de venta en la Oficina de la Parroquia ahora. El año pasado todos los boletos fueron vendidos tres semanas antes del sorteo. Este año vamos a vender 325 boletos y hemos añadido tres premios de consolación de $500 cada uno. Somos La Parroquia de San Juan de Dios - comprometidos a La Fe, La Familia, y La Comunidad!

RESTAURANDO LA GLORIA Para Acoger….Para Alabar Para Crecer….Para Servir Cantidad total de los Compromisos $ 1,291,799.75 Cantidad total de los Pagos $ 1,157,171.75

SEMANA SANTA MISAS Y DEVOCIONES EN ESPAÑOL

DOMINGO DE RAMOS Sábado, 16 de abril, 7:00 PM Domingo, 17 de abril, 9:30 AM DA GLORIA A DIOS 12:30 PM– CAPILLA En el quinto domingo de Cuaresma, 12:30 PM- IGLESIA justo antes de entrar en la Semana Santa, somos llamados a Betania. Si hubiéramos Lunes: 18 de abril-Confesiones en la sido amigos de María, Lázaro y Marta, y nos Iglesia de 3:00PM –9:00 PM hubiéramos enterado que Lázaro estaba gravemente enfermo, probablemente lo habríamos dejado todo para estar con ellos. Jueves Santo: 21 de abril-Misa Eso es lo más sorprendente del comporta- Bilingüe –8:00 PM en la Capilla miento de Jesús. Pese a que era su amigo cercano, eligió mantenerse alejado, para que Viernes Santo: 22 de abril- la gloria de Dios se manifestara. Este es un (a) Vía Crucis en Vivo-10 AM tema persistente en el Evangelio de Juan. (Comenzará en los pasos de la Hasta el mismo final, las obras de Jesús son Iglesia frente de avenida Carleton) para dar gloria al Padre. A medida que (b) LITURGIA DEL PASION nuestra jornada de Cuaresma llega a su apogeo, recordemos que, como personas que DEL SEÑOR —8:00 PM– CAPILLA. “se han revestido de Cristo” en el Bautismo, también somos llamados a dar gloria a Dios SÁBADO DE GLORIA: 23 de abril en nuestras actitudes y acciones. VIGILIA A LAS 8:00 PM-CAPILLA

LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA DOMINGO DE PASCUA Lunes: Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 MISA: 9:30 AM-CAPILLA [41c-62]; Jn 8:1-11 MISA: 12:30 PM—CAPILLA Martes: Nm 21:4-9; Jn 8:21-30 MISA:12:30 PM-IGLESIA Miércoles: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Jn 8:31-42 Jueves: Gn 17:3-9; Jn 8:51-59 Viernes: Jer 20:10-13; Jn 10:31-42 Abre nuestras tumbas, Señor, sácanos de la Sábado: Ez 37:2128; Jn 11:45-56 cárcel de la muerte Pon tu Espíritu en noso- Domingo: Mt 21:1-11 (procesión); tros para que podamos vivir en un mundo Is 50:4-7; Sal 22 (21); Fil 2:6-11; de libertad. (De oraciones bíblicas por L. Mt 26:14 — 27:66 [27:11-54] Deiss ) From Fr. Chris N.: Resurrection Hope is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent. We can see the progression in themes from the thirst for living water (on the third Sunday of Lent), through the desire to be healed of our spiritual blindness (IV Sunday) to our ultimate desire to share in eternal life with the risen Lord (V Sunday). In his vision, Ezekiel, in the first reading, bears witness to the reanimation of the dead Israel in preparation for her return to the Promised Land. He guarantees his community in exile that Yahweh will one day bring them back to live in the freedom of the Promised Land. He assures his people that not even death will stop God from carrying out this promise. 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. The raising of Lazarus is the sixth of seven signs. It is also the last and greatest of the miracles worked by our Lord to prove that he is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, and that through faith in him believers will receive eternal life. In other words, Jesus wanted to make this, his last recorded miracle, a convincing proof of his claim to be what he was---the Messiah, sent by God to give new life, eternal life, to mankind. As this miracle took place a few miles from Jerusalem, Jesus also knew it would give his enemies the impulse and motivation to carry out his condemnation and crucifixion, which was the “debt” he, "the suffering servant" of God, was to pay for the sins of mankind. God’s Blessings Always, Fr. Chris N.

De Padre Chris N.: La Esperanza de la resurrección es el tema central de las lecturas hoy, el quinto domingo de Cuaresma. Podemos ver la progresión en los temas del sed para el agua viva( el tercer domingo de Cuaresma) a través del deseo para ser curado de nuestra ceguera espiritual (el cuarto domingo de Cuaresma) a nuestro deseo último a compartir la vida eterna con el Señor resucitado (quinto domingo). En su visión Ezequiel, en la primera lectura, da testimonio a la reanimación del Israel muerto en preparación para su regreso a la tierra prometida. Él garantiza a su comunidad en el exilio que un día Yavé les traerá de vuelta a vivir en la libertad de la Tierra Prometida. Él asegura a su gente que ni siquiera la muerte parará el Dios de llevar a cabo esta promesa. Para Juan, en el Evangelio de hoy, el resucitar de Lázaro es el último y signo más grande de Jesús, el Libertador, una narración simbólica de su victoria sobre la muerte a costa de su propia vida y un signo previendo su resurrección. Describiendo este milagro, la Iglesia nos asegura que nosotros, también, nos resucitarán a la vida eterna después de nuestra lucha con el pecado y la muerte en este mundo. Por eso, la esperanza de la resurrección es el tema central de las lecturas para el quinto domingo de Cuaresma. Las lecturas nos aseguran que nuestra fe en Jesús que es “la resurrección y la vida” promete nuestra participación en la resurrección y la nueva vida. La resurrección de Lázaro es el sexto de los siete signos. También es el último y más grande de los milagros obrados por nuestro Señor para probar que Él es el Mesías, el Cristo, el Hijo de Dios y que por fe en Él, los creyentes van a recibir la vida eterna. En otras palabras, Jesús quiso hacer este, su último milagro anotado, una prueba de su afirmación para ser lo que fue—el Mesías, enviado por Dios para dar la vida nueva, la vida eterna, a la humanidad. Ya que este milagro tomó lugar algunas millas de Jerusalén, Jesús supo les daría a sus enemigos el impulso y la motivación para llevar a cabo su condenación y crucifixión, que fue la “deuda” que Él “el siervo de Yavé” iba a pagar por los pecados de la humanidad. Bendiciones de Dios Siempre, Padre Chris N.