The document discusses the significance of relationships with God and community during Lent, as highlighted in the story of Lazarus in the Gospel of John. It emphasizes the importance of participation in the flow of God's love, urging individuals to confront personal struggles and support one another in faith. Ultimately, it presents the message that church is about fostering communal relationships and mutual assistance in overcoming life's challenges.

1. 5 April 2014 5th Sunday of Lent – Cycle A Princeton, NJ
During this Lenten season we have been listening to gospels taken from John. And more so than
the other gospel writers, John focuses on Jesus’ relationship with God as well as our relationship
with Jesus. These relationships are often described as a ‘Divine Flow’ in as much as God’s love
and graces flow freely to the Son and through the Son to each of us. God’s love is often described
as this flowing movement that is never restricted. Nothing we say or do changes the love that is
poured out upon us by God. It is unmerited in every sense – freely given to all. Our relationship
with God is not one of transactions needed to acquire…rather it is participation in something that
we are already part of. The only thing we have to do is be willing to accept and trust and share in
the flow of that love.
So during Lent we have been examining our lives to see what blocks that flow - in other words, to
examine our personal garbage. Thus shifting through our hurts and wounds and addictions so that
we can present and aware and participating in that ever present flow.
In the past few weeks the gospels have carried the strong baptismal themes of God’s flowing love.
Two weeks ago we heard the story of Jesus and the woman at the well – yielding the theme of the
‘Living Waters.’ Last week it was the story of Christ healing the blind man whose eyes were
opened to God’s ever present love.
And today's gospel, only found in John, gives a deeper reflection on the fully human and fully
divine side of Jesus Christ and his relationship to community. For this story provides us some of
the most human dialogue and emotions between Jesus and his followers. So allow me to highlight
three key scenes that lead us to an ending which is often missed - and which carries the good
news for today.
First we hear insight into the relationship between Jesus and his disciples when Jesus tells them
that they have to head back to Judea. Picture yourself in that scene. Do you hear the human
amazement and frustration in the voices of the disciples? ‘You want to go back to Judea? Isn’t
that where you were nearly stoned to death?’ The disciples really have no interest in going.
Lazarus is dead, the Jews want to stone Christ and he wants to go back? Why bother? Jesus,
rather than yielding to their wishes is persistent and tells them that they all have to come along.
He wants them to stay together. He wants his community to move with him. And so it is Thomas,
the one who will later doubt him, who speaks up with faith, filled with some sarcasm and humor,
when he relents and agrees that they should all go and perhaps die with him!
The second key relational scene is when Jesus meets Martha. You remember Martha – in an
earlier story she was the in-your-face woman who complained that she was doing all the dishes
while her sister, Mary, sat around at the feet of Jesus. So there is no doubt that she was the one
who came flying out of her home, to the outskirts of town right in the face of Jesus with what may
have sounded something more like, ‘Where the heck have you been! If you had been here my
brother would not have died days ago!’ Can you feel her pain...can you feel his pain? Can you
imagine what this encounter looked and sounded like? Jesus, full of compassion and sorrow
calmly replies that her brother will rise again. And Martha, missing the point says, ‘Yeah, yeah I
know, he will rise in the resurrection on that last day.’ You can tell that Jesus spent a great deal of
time at their home – for she knew his mission – she knew about this unearned love that flows
through to her. But Jesus responds with the line that is really a summary of the entire gospel of
John: “I am the resurrection and whoever believes in me, even if he dies will live and everyone
who lives and believes in me will never die.” And when Christ asks Martha if she believes, with
incredible faith and love of Christ, she says she does.
1 Deacon Jim Knipper

2. This sets the stage for the climax of the story. Indeed, with this incredible miracle, Christ gives
glory to his Father and demonstrates for all that he and the Father are one. And while this is
somewhat obvious for us today, it was a new concept for the community gathered there. But there
is more to this gospel. For the significance of this gospel is what takes place surrounding the
miracle of Lazarus coming back to life. Jesus stands before the tomb of Lazarus, filled with the
stench of death. The tomb that represents the part of us we are called to scrutinize, to shift
through, and to examine. The tomb which symbolizes the deadness, the coldness, and the
hardships in each of our own lives, which, at times seems and feels like death.
But before his miracle look at what Christ does. He first invites all those there, including the
disciples who whined about coming back with him, to roll away the stone. Jesus then calls forth
Lazarus from the dead - requiring Lazarus to take that first step. And then Christ invites the entire
community to participate by untying Lazarus from the cloths that still had him bound on this Earth.
Clearly Jesus could have done all of that himself - but he invited all of them – just as he invites all
of us - to join him in the miracle of giving life and love to others – to foster a continuation of the
flow. But like Lazarus – it is each of us who need to take that first step.
For me, this is the heart of the Lazarus story – that is, the Lord God alone gives life and yet God
also deeply desires us to participate! The risen Lord cannot work miracles unless a community of
believers is willing to take that first step. Is willing to share in the work of rolling away the stones
that oppress us. Is willing to untie each other from the bonds we have to our darkness. Is willing to
surrender to the flow of God’s love. Is willing to walk with each other even during the times we
rather not bother.
Christ knew his own death was fast approaching. Soon the community would be without him and
so he gave meaning to all those present of how and why they needed to gather together. While not
using the term ‘church', his message of ‘community’ was clear: relationship with Christ is more than
a “Christ – me” relationship. Our relationship with Christ must include others.
That is why we are here, that is why we come to church – for it is all about participation. That is
what Christ was demonstrating to his followers in the gospel. It’s about being present to others.
It’s about being part of a community that unties the bonds that hold us to our addictions and rolls
away the stones for each other so that we are freed from the stench of our human tombs. All so
that the grace of God can flow through you. So that the Light of Christ can shine from you. So that
the movement of the Spirit will rest in you and be borne in your every breath. This is the true
meaning of community. This is what church should be about. This is why we gather every Sunday
in our parish - to be church to and with each other!
Community calls for us to put aside selfish goals, private interests and our egos or what Paul refers
to in the second reading as ‘flesh.’ It calls for each person to respond to the needs of others. The
name Lazarus means God helps us, and indeed God does. But it doesn’t stop there. For we need
to remember that what we do each day….all of our actions….all of our interactions… are part of
God’s plan. God deeply desires us to wash in the flow of God’s great love through our active
participation, so that together we can live a life that is with Christ…in Christ….and through
Christ...now and forever.
2 Deacon Jim Knipper