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Lectionary for March 22, 2026
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130;
Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
A guest speaker recently talked to my class about the importance of “majoring on the majors, and minoring on the minors.” There’s enough stuff to fight about in the world without having to agree on every point of dogma. I think Martin Luther got some stuff wrong (and he, assuredly, would feel the same about me!). But I’m still a Lutheran Christian because his vision of God’s saving will and power (not needing any work from me other than faith[fulness]) is captivating. One of the “majors” that Luther and I (and the majority of the church across time, space and denomination) agree upon is the foundation of the resurrection. Everything else, at least for me, stems from that point. My God has the power to raise humans to a physical life that is better than heaven.
The lectionary passages this week argue that our God is the God of resurrection.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 is one of those life-altering passages for me. When I was in Sunday school, a well-meaning leader talked about Ezekiel’s “vision” in the valley of dry bones. Now, I was precocious, but I was just learning in fifth or sixth grade to read the Bible for myself, so I pushed back a bit. “I don’t think this was a vision,” I said, “because it says that the Lord took Ezekiel to the valley.”
“But Ezekiel has lots of visions,” my teacher answered.
“Yes, but they are called ‘visions’ when they are ‘visions’ [like in chapters 1 and 8].”
“But, God doesn’t really bring whole armies back to life, it doesn’t work like that,” my teacher said. “You need to read better.”
I was crushed and humiliated. God doesn’t really work mass resurrection? From that day forward, part of me wanted to become a biblical scholar so I could study texts for myself and not lean on what someone with more authority said I had to believe.
The image of a soul (innermost being) waiting on God to raise it up from the depths to light is a classic image of resurrection. At the same time, this is also the longing of mourners and those on difficult journeys.
Obviously, Ezekiel 37 is read differently across theological traditions. I still read it as a physical mass resurrection, and I’m in good company. Citing the Talmud (BT Sanhedrin 92b), the 11th-century French sage Rashi goes so far as to name the battle in which the slain fell and then rose (1 Chronicles 7:21). As far as I’m concerned, the more resurrection the better!
The point is, raising to life is never just a metaphor. It may be that Ezekiel 37, especially when read as a whole chapter, is talking about the national resurrection of Israel, being joined with Judah once again. But the surety for this promise is that the God who can resurrect hundreds of humans to life from violent death and subsequent decay can do the same for a chosen nation.
Psalm 130 also speaks of a rising from the depths. Often known for its first two words in the Latin translation de profundis, this original psalm of ascents (or pilgrimage psalm) has become a standard at Christian funerals. It’s easy to see why. The psalmist cries out from the depths for God’s deliverance and loving-kindness. More than watching for the rising of the sun, the psalmist waits expectantly for God to act, to deliver, to forgive and to remove iniquity. The image of a soul (innermost being) waiting on God to raise it up from the depths to light is a classic image of resurrection. At the same time, this is also the longing of mourners and those on difficult journeys.
The Gospel of John depicts Jesus performing a resurrection for his friend Lazarus. Yet, every time I read this, it seems as if Lazarus—while Jesus deeply and obviously cares for him—is less a friend in need than an object lesson for the disciples. Jesus waits multiple days to come to Lazarus to ensure that he has died. Then Jesus prays words that he needn’t have said out loud so his disciples and those surrounding Lazarus’ grave can understand that he, Jesus, is the Resurrection (John 11:42). When Lazarus returned to life, physically, many believed in Jesus.
What is the point? Resurrection is central to the story we tell. Elijah (1 Kings 17) and Elisha (2 Kings 4 and 13) knew this every bit as much as Peter (Acts 9:36-42) and Paul (Acts 20:9-10). God’s mission in the person of Jesus is to save humans from sin and death by inaugurating the kingdom of heaven. The renewing of hearts and minds helps us to follow Jesus in word and deed and to act out love that combats sin. Resurrection is the victory over death. Thanks be to God!
