Saturday, April 5, 2014
Gospel Reflection
This weekend, we see Lazarus raised from the dead. The part that stands out for me is that Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and wept. Yes, he had a normal human reaction to the death of his friend. This passage has brought us, as a school family, great comfort this week as we bury Allie. We know that Jesus knows exactly how we are feeling. What caught your attention?
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In God' Providence, He has brought comfort to those who mourn the loss of this precious little girl. We thank God for His tender mercies!
ReplyDeleteIn the East, the 5th Sunday of Great Lent commemorates St. Mary of Egypt (+522), the repentant harlot. This Sunday’s theme has 3 parts. 1st, no amount of past sin & wickedness can keep a truly repentant person from God. 2nd, Christ Himself has come to call sinners to repentance & to save them from their sins (Luke 5:32). 3rd, in St. Mary we see that it is never too late in life, or in Lent, to repent. Christ will gladly receive all who come to Him with sincere repentance, even at the 11th hour. Our Gospel reading is from Mark 10: 32-45, where we hear, "...Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Thank you for sharing that, Pilgrims. I tend to have an "all or nothing" mentality, so if I slip up during Lent, I get really discouraged. It's good to know that it's not too late to start over.
DeleteEarlier this week, I read a reflection that talked about the difference between resusitation and resurrection. Lazarus was resusitated because he eventually died again, but Jesus was resurrected. I appreciated this distinction. It made it clearer why Jesus wept and grieved; he was grieving about the presence of death in our world, which was not part of the original plan. I feel like that gives us all permission to grieve. Even if we know that we'll see our loved ones again one day, it still hurts that we death is causing this painful separation, even if it is temporary.
ReplyDeleteclaire: I think the beautiful Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, read during Resurrection Matins on Eastern morning in Eastern Catholic parishes, speaks to both issues you addressed above --
ReplyDeleteIf any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived thereof. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.
And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
Oops...that should read "Easter" morning, versus "Eastern"morning...
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