A Message for Easter 2017 – From your Urban Friar
APPROACHING Easter two things struck me. Two stones have struck me. Not literally by the way! Writes the Revered Paul Lawlor.
Two stones, both covering the mouths of tombs. One, the tomb of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, and the other covering the tomb of Jesus Himself.
It is my belief that in the case of Jesus, the stone is rolled away through miraculous intervention, Jesus was restored to life and would meet with Mary and the other disciples.
A unique and cosmic event that is the key to the Christian faith and my understanding of our relationship with God.
The other stone, covering the grave of Lazarus, was rolled away by human hands at the request of Jesus. Lazarus had been entombed for four days so there was understandable reluctance.
Jesus then calls Lazarus from the tomb. Out he comes, still wrapped in the grave clothes, which led to a second request from Jesus to those gathered to remove the
clothes and release him.
Why have these narratives together touched me this year? Since October last year life in the town centre and beyond has seen an increase in street begging and homelessness. Many would say the extreme love of God shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the first stone, points to how we should respond.
However, what does the story of the Lazarus’ stone tell us? Lazarus is in a dark place, in the darkness of the tomb. As we look to help those in the darkness of homelessness, the darkness of addiction, or, you name it; there are many ways darkness can touch us.
What should we do? Should we give money or food? If we simply walk by, it feels heartless. I believe these stories of stones together provide an answer.
Firstly, the Lazarus stone: Jesus calls us to help remove the stone. What are the primary causes that stop people from escaping homelessness and what are the primary causes of homelessness? Can I suggest that our ‘help’ can keep the stone firmly in place?
The tomb, whilst hardly comfortable, is less scary than the thought of emerging into the unknown.
With the stone removed, Jesus calls to Lazarus – the person in need makes the first step – we cannot drag people into a new future – they have to take the first step. As Lazarus makes stumbling steps from the tomb with grave clothes still wrapped around him. Jesus calls us to help remove them and let the one bound go free.
We have a part to play in the continuing journey, but only after that first step.
For Jesus, the escape from the tomb is different. The Father calls Him out. The graves clothes are set aside. Jesus points us to a future transformed beyond all recognition, a future where there is no more pain, no tears and no more death. Yes, we look to a world transformed but as Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus, as Jesus wept in Gethsemane, we know the challenges of this time.
Can we seek transformation, not just holding ourselves or others in the current circumstances? Can we look to a transformation? A transformation from death to life.
