Life from Death
Lent's fifth Sunday
Dear Saints,
First up, some announcements:
I sent out my first robocall yesterday. Around 1,000 parishioners received it. If you'd like a listen, you can find it here.
The Outdoor Confessional is now open for business. Check out the schedule and other important information here.
I stream Mass live from the rectory chapel every day - including Sundays - at 8:00am. Find the links (and more) at our mission hub.
As you can see from the picture below, I am currently broadcasting with at least as much quality as a hostage video. This is something we should celebrate!
Sunday's Gospel passage gives us one of the most powerful and shocking scenes in all of Scripture: Jesus' raises Lazarus from the dead.
Throughout the Gospels we see what it means for Jesus to be the Lord of life. Every turn of the page gives us another look at the triumph of life over death. The force of self-giving love made flesh in Jesus lays waste the power of sin and death that holds humanity hostage.
The raising of Lazarus shows that Love is stronger than even death. Lazarus' resuscitation anticipates Jesus' resurrection, in which death is defeated and the creative power at work in Jesus is unleashed on the entire world.
It now falls to Jesus' followers - members of his body by baptism into his death and resurrection - to bring God's rule of self-giving love to every corner of creation. Jesus breathes new life into us and through us to everyone we encounter, even - and especially - when it seems that death is on the march!
Persevere, my friends. God is blessing you today that you might be his blessing for a weary world.
Love,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Don't forget that God's life-over-death victory is extended to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
PPS Enjoy the clip below. Although they take poetic license with the scene, it gives us some sense of the real drama of what happened some 2,000 years ago!
Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Raising of Lazarus by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1311