Readings

I’m glad I went to my bible to discover a little more about God’s call to Abraham in our lectionary today – Genesis 17, 3-9 – because I found out that Abraham was 99 when God made promises to him. He’s 99 and God promises to make him the father of many nations, even have a child. 

Abraham and his wife Sarah laugh at the thought, not for joy, but because it’s so nonsensical. They’re at life’s end, not it’s beginning. Something more to do? A child at their age? 

How can anyone think big thoughts and great dreams at life’s end? Even if we did, there are dire warnings about our environment . Many, not just 99 year-olders, see things ending not beginning. Dark days ahead.

The story of Abraham and Sarah tells us not to believe life and dreams end. I like Jessica Power’s poem about Abraham.

“I love Abraham, that old weather-beaten

unwavering nomad; when God called to him

no tender hand wedged time into his stay.

His faith erupted him into a way

far-off and strange. How many miles are there

from Ur to Haran? Where does Canaan lie,

or slow mysterious Egypt sit and wait?

How could he think his ancient thigh would bear

nations, or how consent that Isaac die,

with never an outcry nor an anguished prayer?

I think, alas, how I manipulate

dates and decisions, pull apart the dark

dally with doubts here and with counsel there,

take out old maps and stare.

Was there a call after all, my fears remark.

I cry out: Abraham, old nomad you,

are you my father? Come to me in pity.

Mine is a far and lonely journey, too.”

Who says the scriptures are dull and have nothing to say? 

Good God, keep us safe and in good health

but also keep our dreams alive .

So many lose hope in times like these,

Keep hope alive in us,

hope that doesn’t depend on life here and now

but hope that comes from your promises,

Through Jesus Christ. Amen. 

MARCH 27 Mon Lenten Weekday Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62/Jn 8:1-11 

28 Tue Lenten Weekday Nm 21:4-9/Jn 8:21-30 

29 Wed Lenten Weekday Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95/Jn 8:31-42 

30 Thu Lenten Weekday Gn 17:3-9/Jn 8:51-59 

31 Fri Lenten Weekday Jer 20:10-13/Jn 10:31-42 

APRIL 1 Sat Lenten Weekday Ez 37:21-28/Jn 11:45-56 

 2 SUN PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

Mt 21:1-11 (37)/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Mt 26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54

Our gospel readings for the final weeks of Lent are taken mostly from St. John’s Gospel. Unlike the synoptic gospels, where Jesus’ ministry occurs mainly in Galilee, John’s Gospel sees Jerusalem as the place where Jesus reveals himself. Instead of going from town to town in Galilee, Jesus goes from feast to feast into Jerusalem. 

In fact, his Jerusalem ministry is why Jesus is welcomed in Galilee, John says: ”When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.” (John 4: 43)

Jesus teaches in the temple on the feasts; his miracles during the feasts are signs he replaces. He is the new Sabbath. On the Feast of Pentecost, he healed the paralyzed man at the pool of Siloam. (John 5: 1-18). He heals a paralyzed world.  On the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7-8 ), which supply most of our gospel readings for the 4th and 5th week of Lent, Jesus reveals himself as the living water come down from heaven and the light of the world. His cure of the man born blind during that feast is a sign he is the Light of the world.  

On Friday of this week, the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple, a winter feast, Jesus is challenged again over his claim to be the new Temple. He teaches in the temple this Saturday as the approach of the Feast of Passover is recalled. In the reading from John 11:45-56 Caiaphas, the high priest, makes the fateful prophecy that one man should die instead of a whole people perishing. How does Jesus respond ? He raises Lazarus from the dead.

The gospel readings Tuesday- Saturday of this week contain Jesus’ important claims to be greater than Abraham. He is God’s Son, “I Am”. He will be condemned for this claim.

The tomb of Lazarus is only a short distance from the Passionist Retreat House in Bethany, but the Israeli security wall prevents you from going directly there.  In 2014, when I visited there, you had to take a taxi and travel ten miles to the check point to get to this important sign in John’s gospel, pointing to the power of Jesus to give life to the dead.

The Franciscan church adjacent to the shrine is beautiful. Ruins of the ancient Byzantine church lie next to it. Martha and Mary, Lazarus their brother, are all remembered pictorially in the new church.

As I approached the tomb in 2014  a group of about 30 pilgrims with their priest was  ahead of me. They were obviously from Eastern Europe and  I guessed they might have been from the Ukraine or Lithuania or Russia. I stayed outside as they went down into the tomb.  

 During the 2nd World War over 40 million people were killed by Hitler and Stalin in what’s been called “The Bloodlands,”  parts of Eastern Europe that were fought over so viciously. That part of the world is “The Bloodlands” again. Were these people going down to the tomb from that part of the world, bringing memories of  “The Bloodlands,” I wondered? 

They started to sing in harmony a beautiful eastern chant and the haunting, glorious music came up from the dark cavern below. Lazarus was being celebrated again and his tomb rang with their joyful song.

The dark tomb was still ringing with their singing when I went in.  A joyful song from a tomb. That’s the powerful message from our gospel today which prepares us for the life-giving death of Jesus. “Lazarus, come out!” A promise to us all.

For this week’s homily please watch the video below.

Some years ago I visited Bethany where Lazarus was raised from the dead. My community, the Passionists, has a retreat house there, called appropriately, St. Martha. I visited the tomb of  Lazarus, which is not far from there. As I approached there was a group of about 30 pilgrims with their priest ahead of me. They were obviously  from Eastern Europe.  I guessed they might have been from the Ukraine or Lithuania or Russia. I stayed outside as they went down into the tomb.  

 During the 2nd World War over 40 million people were killed by Hitler and Stalin in what’s been called “The Bloodlands,”  parts of Eastern Europe that were fought over so viciously. That part of the world is “The Bloodlands” again. Were these people going down to the tomb from that part of the world, bringing memories of  “The Bloodlands,” I wondered? 

They started to sing in harmony their beautiful eastern chants and the haunting, glorious music came up from the dark cavern below. Lazarus was being celebrated again and his tomb rang with their joyful song.

The dark tomb was still ringing with their singing when I went in.  A joyful song from a tomb. That’s the powerful message from our gospel today which prepares us for the life-giving death of Jesus. “Lazarus, come out!” A promise to us.

Readings here.

Morning and Evening Prayers here.

Children’s Prayers here.