Homily, 5^th Lent – A Poem on Resurrection Awakening

April 2, 2017

Title: Move the stone away

The death of a loved one

plunges us into sorrow.

We feel impotent. No words can console.

We question hope.

With sorrow Jesus finds his friend Lazaro

His grave is closed with a stone. A blockage.

Stone separates the living and dead

�Why did you not save him?�

Martha pleads, Jesus answers

�Did I not promise?

You will see the power of God�

Her faith awakens.

Jesus calls out: �Take away the stone.�

and �he raises his eyes to heaven�

�faith in the mystery of death

stronger than stench and grief

�Lazarus, come out! Bound in wrappings;

signs of death

Yet the dead man is alive.

The dead man is alive.

What are the �stones� that block our faith?

How will our faith awake?

Shall we �lift our eyes to God�

when we encounter death?

4. This is the faith of we who trust Jesus

those we bury in death still live

that resurrection not a distant future

living now, in the communion of the saints,

living now, as we celebrate the Eucharist.

rdueweke (April 2, 2017)