March 6, 2008
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This Lent our Gospel readings have progressively drawn us closer to the transformation that Christ intends for us. On the second Sunday of Lent we are in the dark as Nicodemus visits Jesus during the night. On the third Sunday of Lent, we are in sun light as the Samaritan woman at the well talks with Jesus about salvation and authentic life. Last Sunday, we are with the man born blind who receives his sight. This Sunday, we are with Lazarus who is transformed from death to life.
THEME FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Today's readings display God's wish to transform the deadness of our personal lives into vibrant life. In the reading from Ezechiel dry bones take on sinew and flesh. In the Gospel Lazarus comes forth from the tomb and is unbound and set free. These are examples of the transformation that God intends for each of us. In the collect, we pray: "Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
The passage from Ezekiel is the famous story of the dry bones that come to life. "O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
Psalm 130 is a powerful prayer of repentance: "Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice; let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication. If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, O Lord, who could stand? For there is forgiveness with you; therefore you shall be feared."
In the epistle to the Romans, Paul contrasts life that is not transformed (which he calls "flesh") with life in the spirit: "But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you." (Romans 8:6-11)
The Gospel passage from John is the story of raising Lazarus from the dead. John portrays the deep humanity and feeling of Jesus: "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!'" Jesus calls forth Lazarus from the tomb. John tells us "The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.' Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him." (John 11:1-45)
Jesus wishes to free us from whatever binds us and holds us back from becoming the loving persons that God created us to be. We pray that like Lazarus we may be given joy and abundant life.
I invite you to join us for our weekend worship services: the Celtic Holy Eucharist Saturday at 5:00 pm, the Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing Sunday at 10:30 am, and the Sunday Evening Holy Eucharist at 6:00 pm.
Sincerely,
David A. Killian
Rector
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Worship Services for the Third Sunday in Lent, February 23-24, 2008
Saturday, March 8, at 5:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, March 9, at 10:30 am - Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian
Sunday, March 9, at 6:00 pm - Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killia
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Weekend and Mid-Week Worship Schedule
For the schedule of worship services for Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday, please click here.
For the Collect of the Day, Scripture Readings, and Psalm, click here. Please note that the we are now using the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) readings.
For a note on the Music on Sunday from All Saints Music Director, Donald Teeters, click here.
For a Story from this Sunday's Gospel by Becky Taylor, Director of Children's Youth, and Family Ministry, click here.
For a note on the Sunday 6:00 pm 'Sunday Evening Contemplative Eucharist' from Assistant Rector, the Rev. Leslie K. Sterling, click here.
To browse past issues of the All Saints Weekly, click here.
For "All Saints Smiles" and news about events, activities, programs, ministries and the staff of our parish, please click on the All Saints web site: www.allsaintsbrookline.org.
Many thanks to June Santosa, design, Barbara Bembery, distribution, and the contributors above who produce the All Saints Weekly each week.
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