Looking Ahead to March 26, 2023 -- 5th Sunday in Lent

The Scripture Readings this week are: 

• Ezekiel 37:1-10
• John 11:32-45

The Sermon title is Is There Life Here?

Early Thoughts: Sometimes we see what we are looking for and miss out on what else there is to see. Where we expect to see death we see death, and maybe miss the promise of life.

Ezekiel in a valley of dry bones. Jesus, Mary and Martha weeping at the tomb of their beloved brother and friend. Why would they expect to see anything but reminders of the reality, the finality, of death? But in both stories God brings life. God surprises with life. God opens the possibility of life. God helps people see that life is still a possibility

Because make no mistake, in both of our stories the life comes from God. In the midst of his mystical experience Ezekiel is asked if life can be found in these bones. His response is a politer version of “why are you asking me? You have the answer?". Before calling Lazarus out of the tomb Jesus addresses God in prayer, naming that in what is about to happen people will see that God is active in Jesus' ministry. Death is a part of the reality of the world. Life comes from God.

I think we can get caught up in the reality of death. I think we can get so focused on the losses of death (both big deaths and little deaths) that we can lose hope that life is possible. We don't even see that God could bring life into the situation.

Sometimes our expectations shape what we see. We can look at a situation that feels hopeless and the only things we will see are signs of why it IS indeed hopeless. We can be so afraid that the church is dying that we only see the things we are losing as it dies. Sometimes we may need to hear God asking if there is a chance for life -- and then give the same answer that Ezekiel gives.

Is there life here? What will that life look like? God only knows....
--Gord