One of the great values of Lectionary Scripture for Lent is that it’s filled with great stories! This week we’ll look at two of them, plus a Pauline question. Where I am, snow still dominates the lawns and curblines. A testy flock of robins in our blooming pear tree has been phoning their travel agent. We yearn to hear that The Winter King is really yielding to New Life: “Oh, Lord, only you know…”
Ezekiel’s vision (chapter 37:1ff) has been celebrated in song: the bones were VERY dry, but listeners were encouraged to “hear the word of the Lord”. Believers are thus led to realize that New Life is more than resuscitation, it’s full-blown resurrection! Ezekiel paints a picture of impossibility–life structures scattered, disjointed and antiquated. BUT when God’s Breath (ruach) blows a heavenly breeze, the hopeless regain vitality and structure. “Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves….I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live.”
Paul spins an antithesis between fleshly death and Spiritual life and peace (Romans 8:6). Even in our daily dying we can anticipate a transformed reality through the compulsive energizing of God’s Spirit blowing through our “fleshless” persons. “…he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.” (8:11) CAREFUL–this text could degenerate into an “us & them” exercise, just as many have profaned Paul through the years!
BEST STORY EVER! Read it ALL! It’s John 11:1-45, the familiar tale of Lazarus. Each time I read it there’s something that I haven’t seen before, at least not as clearly. The actual resurrection of Jesus’ friend is almost a postscript to the life ‘n’ death questions and accusations which open the story: Mary & Martha’s urgency, Jesus’ laid -back response, the sisters’ berating of Jesus, and (of course) Jesus’ opportunity to speak of Eternity. “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” As the naked bones of Ezekiel’s vision walked about, so did Lazarus rise, let go by human trappings.
These stories require very little explanation. The common thread is that God’s Breath has been willed to enliven those who’ve given up to an impossible situation, to refill the lungs of those who’ve forgotten to breathe and of those who’ve drowned in despair. Richard Rohr has suggested that the Holy Name of YAHWEH is a breathing exercise: “Yah” being an inhalation, “Weh” an expulsion. Breathe deeply!
God Bless Us, Every One Horace Brown King
Now that my computer is back, my musings on lectionary readings for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; and at horacebrownking.com
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