A few years ago, a letter was sent to a deceased person by Department of Social Services. It read: "Your social security cheques will be stopped in March because we received notice that you passed away. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances."
Today we are honoring our graduates. The church recognizes that in life there are many "rites of passage", such as baptism, confirmation, marriage etc. Graduation is also significant since it means change, both for the graduates and their families.
Like Dostoyevsky, Mary and Martha saw death as the "most dreadful anguish" to use Dostoyevsky’s words. That is, until the wandering rabbi came to their house. A word from him, and death let go of its hold on its victim.
"I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full" (15:11). Joy is what we feel when we see something so beautiful that we can hardly bear it. It is like seeing a full, completely formed, rainbow curve across the sky. Jesus tells us that he wants us to feel that sort of joy; joy that is full and complete. He asks us to live in his love and accept his joy.
One of the great questions of life is: Why is there anything at all? Or to put this question in religious terms, why does God create? Why should God bring about reality other than himself, reality in the form of angels and stones, people and plants, galaxies and atoms, animals and oceans?
Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost. The Bible says, "Many waters can't quench love, neither can floods drown it" (Song of Solomon 8:7). The gospel text today is about this kind of love. And how fitting it is that we have this text on Mothers’ Day.
Sermon John 14:1-6 The Start of Something New A funeral homily for a man whose life was characterized by honesty and wit John 14:1-6 The Start of Something New The Rev. Charles Hoffacker After a difficult winter marked by illness, Ray lived into the spring of this year before leaving us for that place [...]
So let us Call the Roll. With joy and thanksgiving let us faithfully acknowledge God’s greater reality. Let us give thanks to God for the living legacy of all the saints that make up the saving history of our God.
Lazarus wasn’t the only one who received new life in this story. Both Mary and Martha received new life as well. They thought Jesus had abandoned them by delaying his trip to Bethany. Nevertheless they still believed. Their self interest died and was replaced by the good for the greater community.
It isn’t odd that Jesus would tell his followers to love one another. What’s strange is that he told them this was his commandment. That’s a pretty strong word, “commandment.” In Latin, the word is mandatum, from which we get our English word “mandate.” “You will love one another. I command it!”