Bishop Eric Menees
Last Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, I had the pleasure of
worshiping with my family since I was traveling later that morning and so did
not schedule a pastoral visit. You’ll remember that the gospel lesson was taken
from John chapter 11 and is the telling of the raising of Lazarus.
This is a powerful passage in which Jesus is honored and God
is glorified, bringing Lazarus back to life after having died four days before.
Fr. Sclafani preached a fine sermon on God being glorified in this miracle, but
my son was left with one question: “Dad I get that God was glorified – but what
about Lazarus, did he have to die again?”
The answer to that question is yes – Lazarus did die again.
Sebastian remarked that poor Lazarus had to die twice, but I said that I look
at it as though he had a foretaste of heaven that few prior to him had ever
experienced. Because he knew Jesus and had experienced his mercy, power, and
grace, he knew what was waiting for him after death. This lead to a wonderful
discussion on the way home and through lunch about life and death, and what
awaits us after we take our final breath on earth.
Of course, we in the church are blessed that, like Lazarus,
we too are allowed a foretaste of heaven and the blessing of experiencing
Jesus’ mercy, power, and grace! We celebrate this every Sunday when we gather
around the Lord’s Table to hear the word of God faithfully preached and to
receive the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, faithfully administered.
What a joy, what an honor, what a privilege we have to hear
the biblical recounting of Jesus’ sacrifice for us: his mercy in forgiving us;
his power in his triumph over death; his grace infused through the Holy Spirit
into our lives. As God’s adopted sons and daughters, we are granted a foretaste
of the heavenly banquet and the promise of eternal life with Jesus. I praise
God for extending the invitation to us, through his son, to the marriage supper
of the Lamb.
All of this has been brought home to me this evening as I
prepare to fly east toward Dallas. Reading the Evening Office, I was struck
once again by the Sunday Collect for Hope…
Lord God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over
the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant
that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may praise you in
that City of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns forever and
ever. Amen.
I pray you all a truly blessed Lent as we prepare not only
for our eventual resurrection with Jesus Christ, but our daily life in and with
him!
Thirty-nine
Articles of Religion
XXIII. Of Ministering
in the Congregation.
It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of
public preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he
be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge
lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who
have public authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send
Ministers into the Lord's vineyard.
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