Lent Five - Unbind them

Reverend Sue
7 hours ago
5 min read

What a wonderful foretaste of the life that emerges in the midst of death – the hope that is stronger than fear and despair. (Lent Five. John 11:1-45; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; and Romans 8:6-11.) But these readings do not deny the depths of grief and loss that we endure. Rather resurrection emerges in the very midst of suffering.

Sentence:

“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 11:44

Collect:

Gracious God, source of all life,

in whom we live and move and have our being,

Give us ears to hear your invitation when we are in the tomb,

and grant us such compassion and courage that we respond to your command to roll away the stone, to remove the bindings of our neighbours,

that we may all be restored to life in you.

This we pray in the name of your Son,

who showed us the way through death to new life. Amen.

Reflection:

What an encouraging gift, at this moment in Lent, in world events, to be offered these images of life emerging even in the midst of death. But there is no ignoring of the grief and loss, of the reality of suffering and death.

You may like to read what I wrote three years ago which reflects on all the texts.

A Foretaste of Resurrection

The resurrections of Lazarus is both a foretaste of Jesus’ own resurrection but also a making real of the principle of renewal and restoration. It is a story that is both mysterious and mystical and also very material, very earthy!

As twenty first century people we cannot comprehend how someone who was dead enough to smell can walk out of the tomb! As an image, a symbol, of restoration and renewal yes we can feel the truth of this story. It speaks a spiritual and psychological truth that we feel in our bones. And the story forecasts that life goes on beyond this physical realm.

And this story points to what our role in restoration and renewal, in making real resurrection, is called to be. The bystanders are called upon to roll away the stone and to unbind Lazarus as he emerges. Lazarus himself is commanded to get up and come out! Whatever great spiritual power is at work we still have a role to play. For Jesus did not say “Abracadabra. Stone roll away.” “Abracadabra. Bandages unravel yourselves!” No - Jesus may have channelled the healing power of God but he did not do cheap magic. He instructs those present – family, friends, and interested onlookers – to do the rolling away of the stone and the unbinding of Lazarus.

And so I am struck this year, this reading of the story, that we are all called upon to have a role in the restoration of each other. The healing power is God’s but we are needed too as those who roll away what entombs people and binds others. And we need others to help us when we are trapped in deathly despair or overwhelming darkness.

Who and where and when is such action required of us? Well on most every level and in most every area of life I suspect. When we go shopping do we look at the label and see where something was made and what were the working conditions of those workers or the living conditions of those creatures that produce what we wear and eat? Have we given alms, the old fashioned language for donations and gifts, to those worse off than ourselves during Lent in order to unbind those who are burdened by poverty?

And what about those a little closer to us, our neighbours and friends and family. Do we know any who are entombed in their homes by frailty or troubled minds? Can we in some way assist to roll away the stone or to unbind? And if not in person then by phone or email or card.

And how about those closest to us – our partners, children, parents. Is there some historical event or hurt, or some current disturbance in our relationship that we need to unbind another from? Or to seek to be unbound ourselves. Indeed, in what ways do we need to be unbound? Who or what could set us free? Who can we ask to help us?

As with every part of the Lenten journey Jesus travelled it both for us long ago and travels the path with us now. He unbound Lazarus and invites us to be unbound and to help in the unbinding of others.

Even so, come Lord Jesus Christ, companion of the journey, come.

Intercessions:

Gracious God,

Creator and Source of all that is,

we are born, live and die, and are resurrected within your infinite embrace.

We give you thanks and praise for the beauty and myriad miracles of creation. Help us so to live in ways that we honour your creation and share with joy the bounty of your world.

We particularly pray for those places and peoples who do not have enough of what is required for a good life.

We pray for those who are diminished by our greed and indifference.

Help us to awake to the needs of our brothers and sisters.

Creator and Source of all that is,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus who restores and renews us,

Come call us out of the tombs we make for our selves and one another,

grant us the courage to step into a life of renewal and hope,

and grant us the compassion to role away what imprisons others

and to help unbind them.

We particularly pray for those who are imprisoned by the justice system,

by addiction, by family violence, and health conditions …