From the Desk of Father Mark - Our Pastor
January 25, 2026 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS BULLETIN EDITION

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From the Desk of Father Mark - Our Pastor
March 22, 2026 - Fifth Sunday of Lent

"Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'
The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands,
and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So, Jesus said to them, 'Untie him and let him go'".

"One step at a time" is a phrase often used in life. In a hospital, patients will be encouraged to walk as soon as possible after a procedure. In a hospital hallway, there will be placards displaying the message ‘you just walked ten feet’. Sometimes in completing a difficult project, one step at a time is the way to manage stress and time. The necessity of movement is necessary for the human spirit. In the raising of Lazarus, to 'untie him and let him go' gives him the freedom to take his next step. There are many things in life that bind us. Ultimately, sin binds our souls. Freedom from sin, saves us from spiritual death. The untying of Lazarus isn’t just a story about one man. It is an account of how Jesus can free us from the sin that binds us.

Approaching the death of Jesus, the disciples will be led by Jesus to prayer and then the crucifixion. But, while in prayer, the disciples will sleep. This sleep indicates their spiritual nature unprepared for what is necessary. They will need to offer witness to the events that are about to happen and the significance of those events. We too, through prayer and reflection, must be ready to offer significance to the events of God we observe in the movement of our lives. Every step is important, and the things that bind us must be removed.

Finally, as Jesus is taken from the cross, he is placed in a tomb. A stone will be placed in front of the tomb. The removal of the stone after three days will indicate that death has not bound Jesus. Just as it did not bind Lazarus. The resurrection of Jesus reflects God’s desire to set us free, unbound by the things that prevent our spirit from being its truest self.

As you complete Lent and enter Holy Week, take one step at a time. Maintain the movement necessary to reach your eternal goal.

Have a great week!

Fr. Mark Walter
Pastor of Our Lady of the Ridge - St.Linus Parish