THE THIRD SCRUTINY: Whoever believes in me will live forever. John 11:1-45
- shbentley639
- Apr 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 3
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me, will live forever
Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
John 11:1-45
OVERVIEW
Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, died and was buried. Jesus told them:
“I am the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die.
Jesus gave physical life back to Lazarus to show that He is the Son of God.
To those who believe in HIS RESURRECTION and follow His WAY of life, Jesus promises eternal life with God after we die physically in this world.
Video: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead:
Video for young children : https://youtu.be/SqP0LydGiu8?si=LxM1J0Xxc2trtuc0
For children: Read Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead (Featured Story). pages
1680-1681.
(RESURRECTION: NEW life after death)
REFLECTION for the ELECT
Let's start with a review of God's good news for us that we've been learning all along:
Jesus Christ loves me:
He gave his life to save me;
and now he is living at my side every day
to enlighten, strengthen, and free me
(to worship God with all my mind, heart, soul, and strength!)
How does the story of Lazarus connect to this proclamation, helping us grow closer to Jesus as our Lord and Savior (Healer)?
In this story, Jesus tells us that he was sent by God the Father to free Lazarus from death.
Jesus tells us that he IS the source of our RESURRECTION and our NEW life.
Jesus promises that all who believe in him and his RESURRECTION will live this NEW life he gives us forever.
By raising Lazarus from the dead, he shows that he has God's divine power and authority.
By his own death and Resurrection, Jesus freed all of us from sin and death.
Jesus promises that we can be raised from physical AND spiritual death to live with God forever.
By the gift of the life-giving Holy Spirit to guide us every day, we can enjoy this new life in His Kingdom NOW and for ever.
ORDER OF MASS
Saturday, April 5, 2025 @ 4:00 PM
We will follow the usual Order of Mass through the Liturgy of the Word and Homily.
Be sure to review the MASS PREPARATION for the 5th Sunday in LENT, April 6, 2025 on the Christ's Forgiveness.
INVITATION TO SILENT PRAYER:
After his teaching (homily), the priest will invite the ELECT and their godparents to come forward to the altar.
He will ask all of us to pray for the ELECT asking God to give them:
a spirit of REPENTANCE, (turning back to God)
a sense of their SIN, and
the TRUE FREEDOM experienced by the children of God
The PRIEST may then pray for the ELECT:
with words like these:
Pray that those who are saddened
by the death of those they love
may find comfort in Christ,
let is pray to the Lord
Response: Lord hear our prayer
That we ouselves
as the Paschal Solemnities* draw near, * (suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus))
may be strengthened in the hope of rising again with Christ
let us pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord hear our prayer.
That the whole world, created by God out of LOVE
may be enlivened through growth in faith and charity,
let us pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord hear our prayer.
CLEANSING PRAYER
Father of eternal life
who are God not of the dead but of the living
and who sent your Son as the herald of life
so that you might rescue human beings
from the kingdom of death
and lead them to the resurrection,
free these chosen ones, we pray,
from the deadly power of the evil spirit,
so that they may receive the new life of the risen Christ
Through Christ our Lord.
Response: AMEN
Godparent/Sponsor places the right hand on the ELECT's shoulder
Lord Jesus, who in raising Lazarus from the dead
gave a sign that you had come,
that people might have life
and have it more abundantly,
free from death those who see life through
your Sacraments
release them from the spirit of wickedness,
and endow them with faith hope, and charity,
through your life-giving Spirit,
so that they may live with you always
and share in the glory of your Resurrection.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Response: AMEN
HANDING ON THE LORD'S PRAYER
The priest will say:
Now hear how the Lord taught his disciples to pray.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"This is how you are to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy Kingdom come,
they will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil."
AMEN
The Celebrant (Priest) says:
Let us pray for our ELECT
that our God and Lord
will open the ears of their innermost hearts
and the gate of mercy,
so that, receiving remission of all sins
through the cleansing waters of rebirth,
they too may be found
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ALL PRAY IN SILENCE
The Priest prays:
Almighty ever-living God,
who make your Church ever fruitful with new offspring,
increase the faith and uynderstanding of our elect,
that, reborn in the font of Baptism,
they may be added to the number of your adopted children.
Through Christ our Lord.
AMEN
The priest (celebrant) or deacon dismisses the ELECT with this instruction
Dear ELECT, go in peace,
and may the lord remain with you.
AMEN
The ELECT receive a copy of the Lord's Prayer to keep as THE PRAYER for their own prayer time.
DISMISSAL OF THE ELECT and CANDIDATES for CONTINUING CONVERSION
The Candidates for Continuing Conversion will be called up to join the ELECT and both will be dismissed:
Dear ELECT and CANDIDATES: go in peace and may the lord remain with you. AMEN