"Rise, take up your bed and walk!"

On the Forth Sunday of Pascha we leave behind the Tomb and the Gospels about our Lord and his post Resurrection appearances. Now we move to the theme of healing through water. The Church is telling us what it means to be a baptized Christian. She desires us to understand what is the result of a life that has encountered the risen Jesus in baptism and now therefore must encounter the world daily. The Church wants us to see that though our actions in this world daily, we bring the victory of the Resurrection to a fallen world. We bring God’s love, mercy, and healing to people who need it most, the outcast and rejected of society. Those who have no hope, who have never known true love and mercy. 

This is just the scene that St. John gives us in today’s Gospel (John 5:1-15). Jesus walking in the shadow of the Temple looks out and sees this, “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time.”(5:1-6) He ultimately sees humanity itself. Sick and lying in need of a savior. A humanity that is unable to worship God and be in communion with each other. Here at the foot of the very Temple where worship of the Living God was supposed to happen, the multitudes just lie and wait. When God created Man he created us to do three principle functions in his new creation; to worship him as God, be in relationship with our fellow man, and to look after his new world. Well, as we see in this Gospel and so many others, when sin and death enter the picture, people are unable to live as God has created us to live. All the relationships break down and we cannot serve the living and true God. 

The question that Jesus asks the man reveals the fullness of the problem that he finds in this man and humanity. “Do you want to be made well?” (5:6) He is asking him much more than do you no longer want to not be sick. Jesus is asking him, “do you desire to be complete?”. Do you want to be the man that God made you to be? Jesus knows that it is only through proper worship and communion with one another, that this man will be made complete. Now he certainly cannot do this lying on his sick bed, no his must, as Jesus tells him “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” (5:8) Here we are reminded of Israel herself, in bondage and slavery in Egypt unable to serve and worship God. The Lord himself goes down to Egypt and takes her by the hand to leads her into the Promised Land. As God himself says in the Book of Exodus, “Thus says the LORD, Israel is my first-born son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me” (4:22-23) The man like Israel must be freed from the power of Sin and its result death. But then what does the Paralytic do in the middle of this scene? He tries to put a road block between himself and the powerful healing that Jesus is about to undertake. As so many of us do daily, he complains or whines to Jesus, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (5:7) Here God is about to act in the man’s life to make him whole and complete but as so often happens in life, he comes up with a reason to say no to God. Like us saying, “No Lord I don’t have time for you today, I will pray some other time, you really do not want me to help that person.” 

Here is the heart of our encounter with Jesus. The initial encounter that many of us made in baptism or the first time we heard or where moved by the power of the Spirit through the Gospel message. It’s not about complaining and winning, it’s about getting up from out sick mat and walking with Jesus. Let us not lie there lifeless and unable to move but get up and serve God as he so desires us to do. When we do worship God fully, love one another through mercy and love, and look after God’s good creation. Then we become fully complete partners and coworker with God, his alive sons and daughters. By doing so we truly reflect God’s image into the world. St. John goes on to tell us what Jesus says to finish out today’s Gospel scene. When pressed by the authorities why he has healed on the Sabbath, Jesus says, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” (5:21)

Let us not return to the sin and death that ruled our lives before baptism but let is live the LIFE that God himself has given us. Only Jesus has the power to move the stones and obstructions that lie in our path. He calls us daily to leave behind that sick bed and take his mercy and love into the world. Be challenged everyday by Jesus and his message to “Rise, take up your bed and walk!”

What about the Stone?

2018 Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

We have now reached the second Sunday since the glories celebration of Pascha. Where we stood at the empty tomb and proclaimed that Christ is risen from the dead. We as the people of God repeated again and again that Jesus has conquered death by his death. From there we came to Thomas Sunday, hearing those very powerful words of our risen Lord, “as the Father has sent me, I send you”. (John 20:21) Yes, we are sent forth into the world to be faithful disciples of the Living God, bringing his love and mercy to all those whom we meet. In other words, making the powerful effects of the Resurrection manifest in the present time. Saying through our daily actions, “yes God’s new creation, his new age is breaking forth into the world.” So then why are we back at the tomb today? Why does the Church now celebrate the “Myrrh-Bearing Women”? 

I have often pondered this question and I think the clue comes in the words of the women, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3) We as the Church return to the tomb we the great assurance and life changing Good News that Jesus is risen from the dead, but we also at times in our lives, live as if the stone is still in place and death and sin are still in control of us.  This Sunday we must take upon ourselves fully what is means to worship and serve the risen Lord, to put into action what St. Paul tells us in Romans, “For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (6:9-11) To do this, we too must do as the Women did and make a plan to remove the stones that lie before us. 

Think how the Women spent Friday night and all-day Saturday asking that same question, “what about the stone?”.  “What about the stone?” Do they have a concrete plan as they go to the tomb? We cannot be sure. But we do know that they are going there, no matter the cost. The Roman Guards, the Imperial Seal upon the stone does not intimidate them. They have decided the anoint Jesus’s body and that is just what they are going to do. When they do arrive at the tomb, they find nothing as they expected or planed for. The stone is rolled away, the guards are missing, the seals are broken, but what do they find? An angel telling them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” (Mark 16:6-7) Yes, the angel is saying, “Jesus has been faithful to what he said he would do, now go and proclaim the Good News!” I love the words that Luke adds to the scene, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:5-6) This reminds us all that we find Jesus where fruitful life is being lived, not among the tombs, not among sin and death. When we live our lives contrary to God’s plan for us, opposed to the Gospel that Jesus is Lord, then we are again seeking the Living One among the dead. We put the stones that Jesus has broken back into our lives and we stumble upon them and very often fall. This is what the Church wants us to see today. That Jesus Christ is the one who rolls the stones out of our path. Only with a plan to act as God’s faithful, image bearing disciples can we accomplish what our Lord desires from each of us. 

Then Saint Luke in his Gospel finishes out the story by telling us what the Woman encounter when they come back with the News that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead, “Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:10-12) From that day to this one, so often this is the reply to the Resurrection. “Oh, you Christians and your tales of a risen God, come on now. Let’s grow up, we don’t really believe this.” Yes, this is heard both inside and outside the Church. But we all do this when we put those stones back into our lives and do not let the power of the risen God transform our lives. Do we trust Jesus as our Lord and direct our daily actions fully around his Lordship? If not, then we are doing the same thing the world often does, questing if Christ is really risen from the dead ones. One thing about this issue that we can learn from the Myrrh-Bearing Women is that we must have a plan. How do we as married people for example, live a life daily that reflects the awesome truth that Jesus is our Lord and God, our risen Savior? Do we pray together, we spend time talking about issues and problems when they come up? A married couple should never go to bed without settling an argument and letting the love of Jesus break the stone of hostility that my lie between you two. It’s those small rocks of small problems that grow and become big stones down the road. Put Jesus and his transforming power at the center of your marriage. By doing so, we show forth that yes, the world is indeed a new place since Pascha morning. Yes, indeed God’s new age has burst forth into creation.  

For all of us, we must not return to live among the dead ones. Each of us must take account of the relationships that we may have. We at times have to ask the question, “is this person fruitful for my life or do I often find myself in trouble when I spend time with him or her?” That is a great difficulty for many people. I had to go through this process when I returned to the Church after a time away. There was a group of friends that I had who I had to leave behind in order to follow Jesus fully. We can’t live as we desire on Saturday night, among the dead we might say. And then on Sunday morning act like God’s people, seeking him at Church. No, it does not work like this. Our Lord wants all of us. The first fruits that we have to give him. Again, Jesus is the one who has rolled the stones away for us to walk freely toward him, let us not put those stone back in our way. 

We all as the Women did, need to have a plan and even when we do not find what we expect around every corner, let us live by our faith in the risen Lord Jesus. Listen to what he tells us, how does he desire us to live our lives. Invite him into your heart and mind to break down and stones or walls that lie in our path. Allow with the full assurance of the empty tomb the power of the Resurrection to be at work in each one of us. Be the very vehicle that God’s mercy and love travels through into the world.  

2018 Holy Week – Thoughts and Observations

Palm Sunday – This year’s Holy Week for me began here in Rocky Mount on Saturday night, with the vigil Mass. I have been serving at this Mass for a number of years now and it has become a sort of tradition for me. I usually preach when I have served in this past and this year I gave this homily:

https://thescripturaldeacon.blogspot.com/2018/03/palm-sunday-meek-and-humble-rider.html

I have always found in interesting that the Passion of Lord is read on Palm Sunday in the Latin Church with the Gospel describing Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem coming at the beginning of Mass when the palms are blessed. It some ways the gospel in forgotten, but in other ways it puts the entry at the center of the Mass. Then on Sunday morning the family and I headed off to Cary for Divine Liturgy. Here I gave the same homily that I had given the night before. It’s not very often that the East and West lectionaries line up, but when they do, it is nice indeed. Another thing that happens in the Eastern Church on Palm Sunday is that the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is used over Basil the Great, which had been used all of Lent. So, since John Chrysostom is much shorter then Basil’s Eucharist Prayer, it makes the Liturgy like a whirlwind and the deacon never seems to stop moving.

Holy Wednesday – I started this day by going to morning Mass. I like to do this during the winter months, when the pool business is slow, it helps to break up the long weeks and gives me a bit of spiritual renewal from Sunday to Sunday. Later that night, the family and I all piled into our big van and headed off to Presanctified Liturgy. We had the Gospel of the woman anointing Jesus and the celebration of the Mystery of Anointing for all the people. It should remind us again and again, that we must die to ourselves if we are to share in new life with the Living God. Just as Jesus was anointed before his death, so all of us must be also. Resurrection is not possible without first passing through Calvary.

Holy Thursday – This day began with a half of day of work, before heading off to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper here in Rocky Mount. For some time, I have served at Mass here, instead of going to Divine Liturgy in Cary. One reason is that one can only make so many, almost hour-long trips, in one week. I also find the Roman celebration to be much more complete, (even without the washing of the feet, which is not done here) then the celebration found in the Eastern Churches. Now please take no offence here. Much of this has to do with the reverent way the priest in Rocky Mount celebrates the Mass and the procession that follows. Do not get me wrong, I deeply love the Divine Liturgy and especial the Anaphora of Saint Basil the Great, which is used on this night, but I also respect the way the priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist rush together in the Latin Church’s Liturgy as well. We can also add into the picture here, the fact of ending in the dark and the mood that this adds to the procession, and the stripping of the altar, both absent in the East. I also have many great childhood memories of these events. As I have told many people before, both Rites are equally beautiful and fruitful, when celebrated properly!

Holy and Good Friday – We started this day together as a family, praying the 3^rd Royal Hour. It was a good way to set the tone and mode of this day. After this I went out to do my shopping for the great feast at church on Sunday. When I returned home I began by making the Russian Salad and Pascha Cheese. At 12:00 Joanne and Elizabeth went Stations of the Cross, while I stayed home with the younger kid and tending them and the kitchen. I thought this would be much more beneficial for Joanne, then for all of us going and the many distractions that come along with two small kids. Before leaving off for Cary, to our Good Friday Vespers, we also prayed the 9^th Royal Hour. This year’s vespers where especial nice because someone donated a new burial shroud. The previous one was falling apart and in very bad shape. Every year I am moved by this service. It is not very drawn out and long, but it brings to one’s heart and mind, what our Lord’s Passion was all about. Good Friday should be a day that brings most Christians to tears as we encounter what Jesus went through for each and every one of us. I am always amazed by how many active church going Christians treat it as any ordinary Friday, when after all, it what one of the most extraordinary days of history. Never since or before, do we find love overcoming evil and light overcoming darkness, in such a powerful and profound way. As Evil and the powers that it represents did and gave its worst, God did and gave his best.

Holy Saturday – This is always my big cooking day. This year I made City Chicken, Baked Bourbon Glazed Ham, and Pascha Bread. I always serve at the Easter Vigil here in Rocky Mount, which starts at 8pm, but because of the Pascha Bread taking so long to make, I was concerned that I would be latter then I liked. Then after all, everything was well, and the cooking turned out great. The Vigil also went off without a hitch. Many people talk about Christ resting on Holy Saturday, but I have always seen it as the time when Christ is battling with the Evil One, giving death its last blow. As Evil deceived Adam and Eve, so now God is about to deceive Death by raising his Son from the grave. Evil thought that it had done its worst to Jesus, but it is about to find out that it had just made him more powerful. A fractured Heaven and Earth are coming back together again. The Son is not laying in the Tomb, put passing from death to life, and bring God’s creation along for the ride and the victory. The unimaginable love that our great God has for us sends shivers down my spine at this very moment!

Pascha/Easter Sunday – What a glories day this was. The church was full, and the singing was awesome. By the time Resurrection Matins where done and the Liturgy had begun, I was losing my voice, but thankfully I made it through. While singing the Canon during Matins I was struck by this hymn, “Yesterday I was buried with you O Christ, today I rise with you as you arise. Yesterday I was crucified with you; glorify me with you, Savior, in your Kingdom.” (Ode 3) This should remind us of two very important things. First, our own resurrection only comes through the cross and that this movement or action begins in the present time. Our sharing in God’s glory, occurs as we live our cross shaped, Jesus centered lives right now. When we do this, we show forth the fruit of the future resurrection and the Kingdom right now. The ground we stand and act upon becomes resurrected ground, ground of God’s new creation. Where sin and death are powerless, and only love and hope reign. This is why Saint Paul can write as he finishes his great passage about the Resurrection, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Co 15:58) What we do now in the Lord is not wasted, but always makes the kingdom manifest, and it is not in vain. Bringing to life the Lord’s Prayer, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. We are the ones called and sent forth to live out this command in the world. Through tears and laughter, ups and downs, this is the life of a follower of Jesus Christ.