Gospel for March 22 2026 – John 11:1-45
Gospel Reflections for March 22 2026
Your Lenten School of…
The five Gospels of Lent reveal events that are your very own personal School of Love.
FIRST SUNDAY: Jesus is tempted in the desert. Each is a temptation for selfishness; to have power and wealth and acclaim just for yourself. Every sin is always some form of selfishness. If you want lasting and satisfying relationships you must resist selfishness, and learn to love by seeing life through other people’s eyes.
SECOND SUNDAY: Jesus is transfigured on the mountaintop. For a brief moment, Jesus reveals His love in a glorious burst of light that makes the apostles very happy. Love transforms us wonderfully. It is contagious too and makes the world a better place …one relationship at a time. Births, Weddings, and Anniversaries are all public transforming events of great joy that can inspire all who attend. They can lead everyone to God.
THIRD SUNDAY: The woman at the well. She had been married five times and is now a social outcast; lonely, bitter, and resentful. Jesus melts her hardness with understanding, forgiveness, and mercy. To be known and cared for, but also gently challenged by truth to grow by a wise and loving partner is deeply satisfying. We find God in moving from a bitter past to a hopeful future.
FOURTH SUNDAY: The healing of the man born blind. We always stumble when we close our eyes to truth, or get angry when irritating people act as they always have. Healthy families see what is actually going on, are never surprised by predictable bad behavior. They carefully listen to each other’s hopes, fears, and needs, and speak about them honestly, truthfully, and respectfully. Jesus heals because it is better to see, than not see, speak, rather than not speak, and listen, rather than not hear.
FIFTH SUNDAY: Lazarus is raised from the dead. The most compelling lesson of all is facing your own mortality. Lazarus was raised …but would die again. No one lives forever, and since you do not have all the time in the world you must use your time well. Facing your own death or a loved one’s passing can help you ponder …why am I here at all, in this place, and at this time? It reveals that someone else is in charge.
Temptations, celebrations, forgiveness, opening our eyes, and facing your own mortality are life events that lead you on the path to God …and lasting happiness. Lent is your School of Love!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you Fr Dave a great reminder of these words helpful during our Lentin walk…
You are welcome!
Thanks Father,
This is great food for thought. My Faith is being so challenged right now with all of this hate and violence going on in our world. It feels as though Satan is in full armor and I need to make sure there is no space in my
house for him.
God Bless You🙏
No need to fear at all. The Kingdom of God will win!
Thank you Father Dave. I enjoyed your 5 reflections on the Sundays of Lent. God bless you!
You are welcome!
Fr Dave,
I love the summary of lent as 5 school of love.
Thank you. That is very beautiful.
My father Thomas G. Overmire PhD passed into eternity this past Monday evening. He was 99. He and my Mom Joan , 97 , have a beautiful love story of 75 years of marriage.
I am so grateful that he was at peace. I spent 3 1/2 weeks in MI with my mom & Brother Jeff, as he was in hospice.
The beauty of God shows itself as in 5 days Ralph & I will become 1st time grandparents.
Her name is Emma & my daughter ,Alana picked it as she liked it with their last name Eritiz.
The beautiful thing is my father said “that was my Grandma’s name Emma. “
Lent has been quite a journey for me this year. With God’s grace I pray to continue grow & I have grown closer to him.
I pray that everyone has a lent that bears beautiful fruit.
God Bless
Thanks for letting us know of the passing of your father at 99 years. A venerable age! Again, the circle of life with the birth soon of your first grandchild.
Love “lent is your school of loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! beautifully said and we so loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee beautiful you leading us preciously to heaven! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!