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The Collect
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lessons
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
The Meditation
Christ stands outside the tomb of Lazarus "greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved." This is not merely the expression of profound human and spiritual love and concern. The deep sorrow of Christ, the God-Man, is a sorrow at what sin has done to humanity.
In Christ, God is recalling the Adam he once made in his own image, a creature radiant with life and beauty. Now, at this tomb, Christ is confronted with the miscarriage of that original creation. Christ is moved at the sight of God's first creation fallen into disorder, destruction and death. Humanity was created for life. And now, as we have turned away from that original gift and chosen to live in this world on our own terms, death has taken its root among us. Christ enters fully into our condition, and is moved with deep sorrow at our loss.
The Church is invited to experience that same disturbance of soul as she sees what that initial disaster has done. She can see the effects of the brokenness of humanity in the world about her, and of her own members, and grieve with Christ - for we are not yet made fully alive as we were originally created to be.
And yet, as a testament to the ultimate victory Christ wins for the all of creation in his own Resurrection, he stands boldly outside the tomb of Lazarus and proclaims, "Come out! Unbind him! Let him go!"
Christ's work does not end with his grief, his solidarity and identification at our loss. At the tomb side of Lazarus we catch a glimpse of the decisive act of God in Christ overcoming the reign of death. Christ is victor! On this fifth Sunday of Lent we are allowed to hear reverberations of the Exsultet of The Great Easter Vigil, "This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell."
The Church receives a double invitation. Yes, with Christ she is disturbed in soul at the brokenness of creation and the toll death has taken upon humanity. And yet, she is also called to move beyond the grief of this troubling observance and act in profound hope on behalf of a redeemed creation where Christ reigns victorious. The Church's ministry of reconciliation, justice and peace-making echoes Christ's words at Lazarus' tomb side. In profound hope, with our proclamation and acts of love and justice, we call out to God's beloved world, "Come out! Be unbound, be let go!"
 | Risen One by Sommer Roman
From "Behold: Arts for the Church Year" Minnesota: Logos Productions, 2013 |
"Lord Jesus, Sun of Righteousness, shine in our hearts, we pray;
dispel the gloom that shades our minds and be in us as day."
"Now nearer draws the day of days when paradise shall bloom,
when we shall be at one with you, Lord, risen from the tomb."
Verses 1 and 4, The Hymnal 1982, Hymn 144, Words: Latin; tr. Anne K. LeCroy (b.1930)
Solemn Prayer (may replace the Trinitarian Blessing in Lent)
Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Christ our Lord.
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