Passion Sunday – Ezekiel 37:1-14 & John 11:1-45‘Then Jesus came to the tomb […and] said, “Take away the stone.” […] So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”’ (John 11:38-44)At a time when we can hardly believe the new ‘normal’ of life, although it is very unusual a story like that of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead may not seem so surreal. Of course, if we had a choice, we might all sign up for a reversal of our own death, especially those of us who are still young or young at heart. It is never easy to lose a loved one, and with restrictions on the way funerals are carried out, it is even more difficult at this time. Lazarus’ sisters had buried him according to the custom of the day and they knew that death was irreversible. When Jesus came to the tomb and saw their distress, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He knew about his own death approaching; he even knew why and how. He wasn’t ill; he wasn’t old; he was not seeking death, yet he knew that his death was to fulfil a unique and special purpose, for the good of humankind. He also knew and trusted in the power of God, the Father. But what does it all mean? The other reading for today is from Ezekiel 37, when the prophet Ezekiel is shown a vision of a valley of dry bones over which a prophesy is declared and the bones are dressed with flesh and brought back to life. The vision was a message from God, who said that he would give new life to his people who were suffering in exile. So how do the stories from Ezekiel and John’s Gospel speak to our own situation and the life of the church in our own time? What kind of exile are we in today? And what about life after death? First of all, these stories speak about hope and faith. They are witnesses to the truth of love and grace. Secondly, they teach us something about the limits of our own self-sufficiency. These stories help us turn away from the issue and toward something, somebody, bigger than ourselves. It may be difficult to acknowledge, and a surprise to some, but human beings are not in control of every aspect of our existence! Our time on earth is limited, and we have a calling to do as best we can in it; not just for ourselves, as if life were a string of selfish entertainments, but for ‘the other’, who is our neighbour. Faith in Jesus as God’s Son, who rose from the dead after he had been crucified, gives us hope for the future: that even when life on earth ends, we may rejoice in life in heaven, where there is no more death, and where God himself wipes away every tear from our eyes. (Revelation 7:17) As in the day of the Bible, when people were struggling in their life-limiting situations, sometimes to gruesome proportions, God is saying also today to his people: fear not, for I am with you. Have faith and I will give you hope. Accept my grace and receive my peace. Do we think that God doesn’t know about afflictions? Jesus suffered an unprecedented death, and he was God’s Son. He also suffered loneliness and a form of self-isolation. He endured threats, abuse, ridicule, fatigue, hunger and thirst. The stories of Lazarus and the valley of bones are introductions to the main story of God: that he ‘loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) It’s the story that has been a comfort to the church in all ages and in all circumstances. It’s the story of Love and of Hope. In Faith, then, may the Peace of the Lord Jesus always be with you.Astrid
Mothering Sunday – 22nd March 2020‘And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed, so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:33-35)When my children were little they would sometimes wake up from a bad dream. I would comfort them; assure them that they were alright; that would be enough. A cuddle, a few words, and they would fall asleep again. A dream was only a dream, not reality. There were no real monsters under the bed, and mummy and daddy were close by, fighting whatever tried to upset or threaten; always winning. I have memories of my own parents like that, too. Of my mum, dressing my knee when I had chafed it playing outside, drying my tears and sending me off to play again. On Mothering Sunday, we have the tradition of returning to ‘Mother Church’: visiting our home church, our roots, visiting mothers and being with family. The cards and messages that we send, the flowers, the meals and treats; they all say, ‘thank you’ for the goodness we have received. And the church service always has a special part in which posies are handed out to all the women present and who remind us of the nurturing quality of God. A lovely moment of a symbolic gesture, in which we refer back to God, who ‘as a mother’ puts his arms around us and carries us through life. This year, though, will be different. I don’t need to explain: many people are self-isolating and the churches have no public services to go to. No posies, therefore, and no special songs and prayers. For those families who can meet and spend time together, there may still be special moments of joy, with a gift of flowers and a card. For others, though, it may be quite difficult not being able to be with family. Or perhaps they never had the care of a nurturing mother. The church service would have helped but we cannot meet like that now. So, we have to ask God to meet with us in a different way. After all, he has given us his Son so that we may have life. When Mary brought Jesus to the Temple as a baby, she was told that ‘a sword would pierce her own soul’. She had also heard the angel say that Jesus would be the Saviour of the world. Joy and pain would go together; a difficult balance! How does it work, then, in our lives, at this time especially, when we are faced with a threat that we cannot even see? How does God hold us, and how can we be a family of faith? Jesus spoke these words, when he looked upon Jerusalem: ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, […] How often have I desired to gather your children together like a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!’ (Matthew 23:37). Firstly, we may need to be honest about ourselves, to let go of anything that hinders and that makes us turn in on ourselves, like selfishness and pride. Secondly, we need to allow God to hold us and to help us move from fear to faith. We may be separated in space, but we can be close in community.There is hope in love. Amen.Astrid
