WELCOME TO ST AGNES ECCLESTON

Fifth Sunday of Lent

The practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

On this Sunday is celebrated the third scrutiny in preparation for the Baptism of the catechumens who are to be admitted to the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil, using the proper prayers and intercessions.

From time immemorial God has promised, “you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.” But this will not happen before Jesus weeps. He weeps in front of discouragement: “are you going there again?” He weeps in front of bitterness: “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” He weeps in front of despair: “Lord, by this time there will be a smell” This is the best moment for God to raise Lazarus from his grave, for then the event will teach us just how far we must go in trusting the power of Jesus’ love for us. If you are “dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.”