[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Alive in Christ

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:





-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Fisher <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
To: sermonshop.sermons.topic <sermonshop.sermons.topic at ecunet.org>; SBA <SBA at SBAbbey.com>; PRCL-L <PRCL-L at LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU>; propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>; midrash <midrash at joinhands.com>
Sent: Sat, Apr 9, 2011 2:02 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Alive in Christ


Better late than never! Here's my rough draft for Lent 5a. The pericopes are
the Ezekiel and John texts.  The sermon is being preached at a Service for
Wholeness, aka a healing service.

PAX,


__

Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
www.ffisher.net
Interim Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL
www.fpckewanee.org
Elmira United Presbyterian Church
www.elmiraunited.org

aka

Brother Oscar Romero
Oblate of St. Benedict's Abbey
Bartonville, IL
www.SBAbbey.com


"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so
that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice."-Cherokee proverb

__________________

He hadn't come
seeking healing.
He knew,
of course,
no possibility
of true healing
could exist for him.
His deep depression,
made him feel
dried up,
and lifeless.
And his body
soon reflected
his emotional state.
In his depth of darkness,
he slowly wasted away
until he was physically
as dry and lifeless
as his spirit
was empty.

Israel
was his name.
Once
he'd been fully alive
in body, mind, and spirit.
Then came the day
when the Babylonians
burst through
the walls
of his sacred home.
He'd been chained
and led away
to Babylon.
He had to admit
his captivity wasn't painful.
But his separation
from the city
and house
of the Lord
began to drag at him
until he found himself
literally dying
from grief.

He breathed his last breath,
and his body
began its return
to the dust
of which it was made.
Then something
called him back;
something
which drew his dust together,
and placed flesh
back upon him.
And the Wind of God
roared
through his emptiness,
filling again
his lungs,
with the breath 
of life,
and writing
within his heart
the promise
he would soon
return home.

He hadn't been seeking
healing.
But healing came,
God's love and grace
came,
and once again
he was fully and completely
alive.

She did come
seeking healing.
She knew,
of course,
no possibility
of true healing
could exist.
Her deep depression,
made her feel
dried up,
and lifeless.
And her body
soon reflected
her emotional state.
In her depth of darkness,
she slowly wasted away
until she was physically
as dry and lifeless
as her spirit
was empty;
empty
like the 
lifeless form
of her brother,
Lazarus.
Martha
was her name;
the practical one
they called her;
the one who cooked and cleaned
while Mary got to sit
and learn
with the other disciples
as they gathered
at Jesus' feet.

Her brother's death
shattered her practicality.
In her mind
the memory of
his last few days
played itself back
over and over again.
Desperately
she wanted to find
some reason
for this tragedy.
And her mind
fixed on Jesus' absence.

"Where was he,
when I needed him?" she asked.
"Where was he,
while Lazarus
faded away?
Where is he now?
He must know
I'm fading too!" 


Three days passed by
and she now knew
her brother's soul
had left his body.
Her depression deepened.
But then
she heard 
the news.
Jesus was coming.
She ran to him,
and in desperation said,
"Lord,
Lazarus would not have died
if you had been here.
But I know
you're the Messiah.
God will give you
what ever you ask."

She ran back toward home
then,
and returned with her sister,
Mary.
It was Mary,
the practical one now,
who objected
to removing the stone
from the entrance
of her brother's tomb.
Jesus
over ruled
her objection.

"Didn't I tell you
you'd see God's glory?"
he asked.
Then he shouted,
"Lazarus,
come out!"

She could feel
God's Wind
rush through her,
banishing her depression,
and restoring her
to full life.
And she could almost hear
the Wind roar,
rushing
into her brother's tomb,
and breathing life
into his body.

She had come 
to Jesus,
seeking
healing.
And healing came,
God's love and grace
came,
and once again,
in Jesus' name,
she was fully 
and completely
alive.

We come here today,
seeking healing;
healing for ourselves
or for someone we love;
healing
in body,
mind,
and Spirit.
Will healing
be granted?
I don't know.
If it is
than it is by God's grace,
and not by our merit.
If healing is not
given,
it is not because
someone here
has done something wrong.
God answers prayer
as God chooses.

Our form of prayer
is no more miraculous
than any other
type of prayer.
But remember
prayer itself,
the ability
to put our needs before God,
is in itself
miraculous.

Both Israel
and Lazarus
were brought back
from death to life.
Healing can come,
and we fan be
fully alive
in our Lord Jesus Christ.

To God alone be glory.
Amen.




 
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