Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

Death under any circumstance is hard, isn’t it? While we as Christians should not fear death, neither should we be complacent about it or try to whitewash it. When death strikes, it makes us angry and indignant, the way Jesus was at Lazarus’ tomb (cf. John 11.38) because death is our enemy. As Paul reminds us, it is the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15.26). Death robs us of our human dignity and it separates us from our loved ones, at least for a season. But O how long that season can be! Not only that, it is doubly hard to stand by and watch those we love grow increasingly infirm to the point of death. It sucks the energy right out of us and like Martha in today’s gospel lesson we want to throw our hands up in the air and ask in desperation why God allows this to happen. But Jesus has a better answer to our “why” questions than we could ever hope and imagine—bodily resurrection and new creation. Check it out and see what you think. Then take real hope. Lectionary texts are Isaiah 25.6-9; Psalm 13