Our focus today is on the great story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. In these days of isolation, the Church calls us to reflect on the gift of our new life in Christ. Like Martha and Mary, who were lost for words at the death of their brother, we too share feelings of anxiety, loneliness and doubt in this time of pandemic. It is difficult because we cannot physically be together, but we stay united in Christ through prayer and faithful friendship.
It is my hope and prayer that all of you are staying safe and healthy. We are working on ways to reach out to you through our webpage and through social media. The emptiness in our churches this weekend reminded me of the silent retreat I made years ago. In the peaceful quiet of personal prayer, I felt closer to God and to you as I asked God to help us through this crisis, to make us ever stronger and more fervent in our faith. Yet I also know I was not alone. I had you and God with me and I felt His and your living presence. I felt the gift of hope, like Martha, than enabled me to pray with you and for you, “I know you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” We are not alone in this. God, as always is with us and for us. So, like Martha, we trust in the Lord. The Lord stands with us and is right beside us in these days of uncertainty.
As we wait for the Lord to call us to come out of this time of separation, let us continue to hold each other in our thoughts, hearts and prayers. As songwriter Carrie Newcomer wrote, “Let us listen to something wordless and remaining in the quietness of now. There is a living water, a spirit cutting through making all things new,” Listen to His living voice in the quietness of now so that we, like Lazarus, may live again in the glory of our life in the risen Christ.
On a personal note, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support through online giving and the many people who have mailed in or dropped off their contributions for offertory and Parish Share. Please remember that you and your family come first and I am so grateful for whatever you can give. In these uncertain times, I am most grateful for the solidarity of your faith and friendship and you are God’s gift to me in so many ways. You are the best and so I do thank God for the gift of you each day. God bless you all, Stay safe, stay healthy and stay blessed.