Sermon – Things That Bind Rev. Sandy Lacey November 03, 2024 – Celebrating All Saints
For the celebration of All Saints Day, we hear from both the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus in John’s gospel will be the breaking point for the religious leaders and the people in power. It will send them over the edge, for it is one thing to miraculously heal people; it is quite another to bring the dead back to life. And so, soon after this passage we see conspiracies, plots, intrigue as those in power worry about the status quo tilting out of their favor. Jesus seems to do this act on purpose. He had been sent word that his friend Lazarus was ill but instead of hurrying to his side to heal him as he has done with others, he waits. A few days later he heard the word that his friend had died; and it is at that point that he tells his disciples that he must return to Bethany because his friend “sleeps.” The disciples and Jesus see the weeping and grieving mourners when they arrive at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Before today’s passage Martha greeted Jesus and now, we read that Mary greets him. She is wondering why Jesus delayed his arrival and she is distraught. Many of us have known her pain and I suspect we have asked similar kinds of questions. What we learn from Jesus’ response is his great love for this family. He also grieves; he sobs his grief as the cynics whisper to each other in the background. Then he looks at the tomb where Lazarus has been buried and he asks the stone to be rolled away. Martha, ever practical, is concerned about protocol and smell, but acquiesces to Jesus’ demand. It is as if she said something like, “It will be messy Jesus.” She’s right. It has been my observation that anytime a resurrection happens, it makes a mess of things. We are comfortable with the status quo, after all – even if the status quo is painful. At least it is familiar to us. Resurrection, whether literal or figurative, is always unpredictable and it is completely unfamiliar. You see, in order for resurrection to happen, something had to die. An old way of life must die in order for the new to happen. Change always involves loss of some kind and sometimes we would rather remain in pain than go through the changes to be made into something new. Those who deal with addiction, for example, will tell you that one has to reach your low point/the bottom before one is willing to surrender to a higher power to gain a new way of life. Likewise, people in a toxic relationship will often have to go through a real mess before they have the insight and courage to recognize life is not meant to be lived that way. In order for transformation to occur, we must be willing to get messy and surrender the old to make room for the new. Resurrection is never easy; and it is never cheap. It always costs something. In this passage, Jesus prays so that the family and onlookers clearly understand that he and the Father talk regularly and that in fact, the God they worship sent him. Then Jesus yells for Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Amazingly, he does, walking awkwardly in his burial bandages that have bound him. So, it seems that even when miracles happen, we still must go through a process of shedding what has bound us before we can truly embrace the new. Some people describe it as taking two steps forward, then three steps back, then maybe two steps forward, and only one step back, etc. until we learn to live without whatever that has kept us captive and bound. The miracle of transformation is rarely a smooth one with a straight trajectory that is always forward and upward. (I am reminded of the Israelite community as Moses leads them out of slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. It took 40 years for the binding of a slavery mentality to be removed.) Corporately, as a community of faith, we are famous for messy transformations too. We are famous for forward motion that is suspended; and we are good at adding new bindings. Anytime we focus more on rules than on love, we bind people. Anytime we care more about ourselves than we do the people outside these walls, we not only bind those people, but we bind ourselves as well. Anytime we focus more on lack than on abundance, we wrap ourselves in bindings that prevent us from doing the mission God calls us to do. I am afraid we (the big “c” church) have become expert for trying to live comfortably in bandages while we negotiate our way in tombs. Friends, people will tell you the church is dying and is irrelevant, but don’t you believe it. The numbers may be less or different from what we were used to a few decades ago. Budgets may be different and traditional programs in the church may no longer work; however, true discipleship making is on the rise. Resurrection is messy and Jesus continually calls us out of our individual and corporate tombs. Do we have the ears to hear his call? After Lazarus emerges from the tomb, Jesus instructs the onlookers and his family to remove what binds him so that he might be free. Jesus does the work of resurrection, and yet he asks us to help by removing what binds. Even though he is quite capable, Jesus does not work alone. In that day, he called twelve to help him in his ministry and there were twelve to carry it forward after he is gone. And doesn’t he pick the unlikeliest of characters – fishermen and tax collectors – working class and riff-raff, men and women, imperfect people – you and me. How do we help with unbinding today? Anytime we participate in the mission and ministry of Christ – when we speak kind words to people; when we respect and honor people’s differences and call out hatred when we see it; when we commit our resources and talents to the church; when we pack up snacks for schoolchildren who are unable to afford meals over the weekend; you fill in the blank _______________. How have you helped to unbind someone recently? Or are you one of the cynics whispering in the corner something like, “well, if Jesus and the Church are so great, why isn’t it filled with people?” Granted, there are lots to be cynical about. The big “C” Church has done lots of ridiculous, unwelcoming, non-transforming, tomb-loving things over the years. But if you are paying attention, you might just see the miraculous as well. There are several things that keep us bound and from being who we are created to be, things such as illness, resentment, fear, anxiety about the unknown, stress, even old messages from our childhood that we need to let go. And while we as the church can help with the unbinding, it is true that Lazarus had to take the step out of the tomb. We, who are bound, in one way or another, must be willing to do the work too. Jesus does not heal anyone who does not want to be healed. He frequently asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” Today, we can learn a few things from the saints who have gone before us. Their faithfulness, courage, and perseverance are examples to us of what it means to follow Christ and help unbind others. It is true that Ed, Jeffrey, Jan, Vivian, Fleeta, Lyle, Eleanor and other family members/friends all died; and it is true that while Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead on that day in Scripture, Lazarus would live to die another day. We all die; it is part of what it means to be human, and that is a hard reality for us. What I know is that God created you, created me, and created these saints who have gone before us. God created us to be in community and work in the mission and ministry of this place because it is both our privilege and our responsibility to help unbind others. Ed, Jeffrey, Jan, Vivian, Fleeta, Lyle, Eleanor and our other family members/friends had lives of meaning and purpose doing just that. Your life has meaning and purpose too. Yes, resurrection is hard work, and it can be messy. But Jesus says you are worth it. AMEN.
For the celebration of All Saints Day, we hear from both the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus in John’s gospel will be the breaking point for the religious leaders and the people in power. It will send them over the edge, for it is one thing to miraculously heal people; it is quite another to bring the dead back to life. And so, soon after this passage we see conspiracies, plots, intrigue as those in power worry about the status quo tilting out of their favor. Jesus seems to do this act on purpose. He had been sent word that his friend Lazarus was ill but instead of hurrying to his side to heal him as he has done with others, he waits. A few days later he heard the word that his friend had died; and it is at that point that he tells his disciples that he must return to Bethany because his friend “sleeps.” The disciples and Jesus see the weeping and grieving mourners when they arrive at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Before today’s passage Martha greeted Jesus and now, we read that Mary greets him. She is wondering why Jesus delayed his arrival and she is distraught. Many of us have known her pain and I suspect we have asked similar kinds of questions. What we learn from Jesus’ response is his great love for this family. He also grieves; he sobs his grief as the cynics whisper to each other in the background. Then he looks at the tomb where Lazarus has been buried and he asks the stone to be rolled away. Martha, ever practical, is concerned about protocol and smell, but acquiesces to Jesus’ demand. It is as if she said something like, “It will be messy Jesus.” She’s right. It has been my observation that anytime a resurrection happens, it makes a mess of things. We are comfortable with the status quo, after all – even if the status quo is painful. At least it is familiar to us. Resurrection, whether literal or figurative, is always unpredictable and it is completely unfamiliar. You see, in order for resurrection to happen, something had to die. An old way of life must die in order for the new to happen. Change always involves loss of some kind and sometimes we would rather remain in pain than go through the changes to be made into something new. Those who deal with addiction, for example, will tell you that one has to reach your low point/the bottom before one is willing to surrender to a higher power to gain a new way of life. Likewise, people in a toxic relationship will often have to go through a real mess before they have the insight and courage to recognize life is not meant to be lived that way. In order for transformation to occur, we must be willing to get messy and surrender the old to make room for the new. Resurrection is never easy; and it is never cheap. It always costs something. In this passage, Jesus prays so that the family and onlookers clearly understand that he and the Father talk regularly and that in fact, the God they worship sent him. Then Jesus yells for Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Amazingly, he does, walking awkwardly in his burial bandages that have bound him. So, it seems that even when miracles happen, we still must go through a process of shedding what has bound us before we can truly embrace the new. Some people describe it as taking two steps forward, then three steps back, then maybe two steps forward, and only one step back, etc. until we learn to live without whatever that has kept us captive and bound. The miracle of transformation is rarely a smooth one with a straight trajectory that is always forward and upward. (I am reminded of the Israelite community as Moses leads them out of slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. It took 40 years for the binding of a slavery mentality to be removed.) Corporately, as a community of faith, we are famous for messy transformations too. We are famous for forward motion that is suspended; and we are good at adding new bindings. Anytime we focus more on rules than on love, we bind people. Anytime we care more about ourselves than we do the people outside these walls, we not only bind those people, but we bind ourselves as well. Anytime we focus more on lack than on abundance, we wrap ourselves in bindings that prevent us from doing the mission God calls us to do. I am afraid we (the big “c” church) have become expert for trying to live comfortably in bandages while we negotiate our way in tombs. Friends, people will tell you the church is dying and is irrelevant, but don’t you believe it. The numbers may be less or different from what we were used to a few decades ago. Budgets may be different and traditional programs in the church may no longer work; however, true discipleship making is on the rise. Resurrection is messy and Jesus continually calls us out of our individual and corporate tombs. Do we have the ears to hear his call? After Lazarus emerges from the tomb, Jesus instructs the onlookers and his family to remove what binds him so that he might be free. Jesus does the work of resurrection, and yet he asks us to help by removing what binds. Even though he is quite capable, Jesus does not work alone. In that day, he called twelve to help him in his ministry and there were twelve to carry it forward after he is gone. And doesn’t he pick the unlikeliest of characters – fishermen and tax collectors – working class and riff-raff, men and women, imperfect people – you and me. How do we help with unbinding today? Anytime we participate in the mission and ministry of Christ – when we speak kind words to people; when we respect and honor people’s differences and call out hatred when we see it; when we commit our resources and talents to the church; when we pack up snacks for schoolchildren who are unable to afford meals over the weekend; you fill in the blank _______________. How have you helped to unbind someone recently? Or are you one of the cynics whispering in the corner something like, “well, if Jesus and the Church are so great, why isn’t it filled with people?” Granted, there are lots to be cynical about. The big “C” Church has done lots of ridiculous, unwelcoming, non-transforming, tomb-loving things over the years. But if you are paying attention, you might just see the miraculous as well. There are several things that keep us bound and from being who we are created to be, things such as illness, resentment, fear, anxiety about the unknown, stress, even old messages from our childhood that we need to let go. And while we as the church can help with the unbinding, it is true that Lazarus had to take the step out of the tomb. We, who are bound, in one way or another, must be willing to do the work too. Jesus does not heal anyone who does not want to be healed. He frequently asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” Today, we can learn a few things from the saints who have gone before us. Their faithfulness, courage, and perseverance are examples to us of what it means to follow Christ and help unbind others. It is true that Ed, Jeffrey, Jan, Vivian, Fleeta, Lyle, Eleanor and other family members/friends all died; and it is true that while Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead on that day in Scripture, Lazarus would live to die another day. We all die; it is part of what it means to be human, and that is a hard reality for us. What I know is that God created you, created me, and created these saints who have gone before us. God created us to be in community and work in the mission and ministry of this place because it is both our privilege and our responsibility to help unbind others. Ed, Jeffrey, Jan, Vivian, Fleeta, Lyle, Eleanor and our other family members/friends had lives of meaning and purpose doing just that. Your life has meaning and purpose too. Yes, resurrection is hard work, and it can be messy. But Jesus says you are worth it. AMEN.