Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
26 March 2023: 5th Sunday of Lent (Cycle A)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Kim Insley
John 11: 1-45
This week’s gospel is the full story of the death of Lazarus, Mary and Martha’s brother and how Jesus comes to raise him from the dead. Like many of our gospel readings during Lent, there is so much depth to this reading. First there is the basic story that Jesus raises Lazarus after he had been in the tomb for four days (v39). Then we have the reason Jesus was not there with the family when Lazarus was dying: and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. (v15). Earlier in verse 6 we hear that even hearing that Lazarus was ill he stayed two days longer. This feels very unfair of Jesus because we are told in verse 5 that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. It does remind me though that in answering our prayers, God responds in His time, and that there might be a good reason for this … and one I am not aware of.
The third element is that it is Martha this time who runs to greet Jesus and responds to him. I’ve always felt sorry for Martha who in the story of Mary anointing Jesus with ointment (we are reminded of this in verse 2) is doing all the work preparing a meal etc. Here it is Mary who is late and tending to her own needs. This element of the story is so rich because it confirms Jesus’s position as the Christ (the Messiah) when he proclaims “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (v25/26). Martha makes the connection in response “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.” (v27). What a powerful testament especially at a time of mourning!
And finally, we are reminded that that Jesus’ plan outlined in verse 15 is achieved as in verse 45 we are told Many of the Jews therefore who had come with Mary [to the tomb] and had seen what he did, believed in him.
In responding to this gospel, I ask myself would I have lived up to my Martha side and recognised through my own sorrow the Messiah? It is very hard when you are mourning, but as I write this, I am reflecting on a year ago when Father Victor gave a good friend of mine the sacrament of the sick for the last time (just about 15 minutes before she died). Norah said in response to the anointing, “Jesus, I love you” in a strong voice – a voice which we all heard although she had little strength and breath left. She also joined in the Our Father. This gave me comfort in my mourning at the time, and I often remember that strength of conviction at the time of death.
Perhaps we all have memories of displays of conviction such as Martha’s in the gospel.
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2 April 2023: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Ian Insley
Matthew 26:14-27:66
The gospel for Passion Sunday is a long one! Virtually two whole chapters of Matthew this year.
There are so many messages that I could not begin to cover them all in this piece.
I will pick out three;
Betrayal
Loyalty
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Kim Insley
John 11: 1-45
This week’s gospel is the full story of the death of Lazarus, Mary and Martha’s brother and how Jesus comes to raise him from the dead. Like many of our gospel readings during Lent, there is so much depth to this reading. First there is the basic story that Jesus raises Lazarus after he had been in the tomb for four days (v39). Then we have the reason Jesus was not there with the family when Lazarus was dying: and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. (v15). Earlier in verse 6 we hear that even hearing that Lazarus was ill he stayed two days longer. This feels very unfair of Jesus because we are told in verse 5 that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. It does remind me though that in answering our prayers, God responds in His time, and that there might be a good reason for this … and one I am not aware of.
The third element is that it is Martha this time who runs to greet Jesus and responds to him. I’ve always felt sorry for Martha who in the story of Mary anointing Jesus with ointment (we are reminded of this in verse 2) is doing all the work preparing a meal etc. Here it is Mary who is late and tending to her own needs. This element of the story is so rich because it confirms Jesus’s position as the Christ (the Messiah) when he proclaims “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (v25/26). Martha makes the connection in response “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.” (v27). What a powerful testament especially at a time of mourning!
And finally, we are reminded that that Jesus’ plan outlined in verse 15 is achieved as in verse 45 we are told Many of the Jews therefore who had come with Mary [to the tomb] and had seen what he did, believed in him.
In responding to this gospel, I ask myself would I have lived up to my Martha side and recognised through my own sorrow the Messiah? It is very hard when you are mourning, but as I write this, I am reflecting on a year ago when Father Victor gave a good friend of mine the sacrament of the sick for the last time (just about 15 minutes before she died). Norah said in response to the anointing, “Jesus, I love you” in a strong voice – a voice which we all heard although she had little strength and breath left. She also joined in the Our Father. This gave me comfort in my mourning at the time, and I often remember that strength of conviction at the time of death.
Perhaps we all have memories of displays of conviction such as Martha’s in the gospel.
***************************
2 April 2023: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Ian Insley
Matthew 26:14-27:66
The gospel for Passion Sunday is a long one! Virtually two whole chapters of Matthew this year.
There are so many messages that I could not begin to cover them all in this piece.
I will pick out three;
Betrayal
- The Jewish authorities could not bring themselves to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and so they looked out for opportunities to silence him. This was difficult during daylight hours because Jesus was so popular with the crowds. Jesus had shown up their lip service to the Law and their insistence on the letter rather than the spirit of the Law. Judas’ offer to betray him was most welcome. They could get hold of him at night and without a fuss.
- Judas obviously. Whatever Judas’s motives were (and there could have been many) he betrayed all his friends, the other apostles and Jesus. Enough said.
- Peter, James and John who were unable to stay awake when Jesus was praying. It may be a bit harsh to call this betrayal but I think it is clear that Jesus felt let down by his core team at his most difficult time.
- All the disciples (except, of course, Judas) who ran away when the gang came to arrest Jesus. Jesus was probably not surprised but he must have been a little disappointed. He had told them repeatedly that this was going to happen.
- Peter, again obviously. But what good use Jesus made of him subsequently. It gives me hope that God can still make use of human beings who let him down so thoroughly and so publicly. No one is lost to God unless they want to be.
- Pilate. He could have been stronger and told the Jewish authorities that he was not going to execute this man who he could see had done no wrong. Yet, he took the path of least resistance and, literally, washed his hands of him. Jesus would have expected nothing less but the reality must have been disheartening.
- The witnesses who had been set up to give evidence against Jesus could not even get their stories straight.
- The Sanhedrin, who were determined to get rid of this matter who told inconvenient truths to power. Jesus was openly critical of these men who were supposed to be learned in the Law, how it was to be applied and what it meant. When they asked him whether he was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus replies “… you will see the Son of Man – his favourite expression for himself – seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” This was a reference to a passage in the Book of Daniel but either they did not recognise it or, more likely, they could not bring themselves to believe that this man could be the promised saviour of the Jewish people – he didn’t fit their mould.
Loyalty
- Fist and foremost, his women supporters. Unlike the apostles, they did not leave the scene and hightail it back to Galilee. They stayed with him on the terrible journey to Calvary, were there at the foot of the cross and were watching outside his tomb. There is an example to follow.
- The centurion and the other soldiers who saw what happened at the moment of Jesus’ death; graves opened and the curtain which kept the Holy of Holies in the Temple separate was torn in two. They recognised Jesus as the Son of God.
- Joseph of Arimathea who was not afraid to stand up and be counted as one of Jesus’ followers at a time when that must have been the most difficult.