3/22/26

NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 3/22


On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Tonight we'll pray from the day's gospel:

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.
 
So the sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death: it is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he remained in the place where he was for two days. Then, after this, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea. Our friend Lazarus is asleep - but I am going to awaken him.” But the disciples said to him, “Lord, if he’s asleep, he’ll be saved.”  But Jesus was talking about his Lazarus’ death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for your sake that I wasn’t there, so that you may believe. Let’s go to him.”

When Jesus finally arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many people had come out to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him; but Mary sat at home.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here -- my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God -- God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha replied, “I know he will rise, Lord - in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said,  “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

When Martha had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as Mary heard this, she rose quickly and went out to him, for Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. Now, when those who were with her in the house, comforting her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping and the people who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the people said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the eyes of that blind man have done something so that Lazarus wouldn’t have died?”

Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe  - you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And having said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

Now many of those who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done  began to believe in him.

Night Prayer

You cried, too, Jesus,
as we do when we're touched by grief,
    burdened, stunned and stung by loss;
you wept at the death of Lazarus, 
    the friend you loved so much...
 
    Jesus Wept by Dr. Linda Rozelle-Shannon

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 You grieve, like us, in a stream of tears
flowing from somewhere deep within:
a coursing river, never running dry...
 
Like us, you draw from a well of tears,
    aching, deep and dark;
a well we tap in sorrow
    to bathe and soothe our wounded hearts...
 
You wept for your love of Lazarus, Lord:
    would you, do you, weep for me?
Do you weep with longing for my love
    when my words and deeds fail yours? 
Do you weep with gentle healing
    when I'm torn apart by grief?
Do you weep and wash my pain away
    til joy reclaims my soul?
 
Let one tear from your eyes, Lord,
    fall soft upon my cheek,
anointing me with gladness
    and the peace my heart cries out for,
        the joy your healing brings...
 
From the well of our shared tears, Lord,
    draw up some joy for me
and quench with overflowing grace
    my thirsty, sorrowed soul...
 
You wept for love of Lazarus 
    and so I pray tonight, Lord,
look kindly on my broken heart
    and spare a tear for me... 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
    and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
    and asleep, rest in your peace...
 

Jesus Cries by Riley Clemmons

If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!
 
 
It’s no secret that life 
Gets a little heavy sometimes 
Like it’s too much for one heart to take 
Your smile’s wearing thin 
Just tryin’ to hold it all in 
But it feels like the dam’s gonna break 
 
You are not alone facing that flood behind your eyes 
Heaven already knows every tear that you cry 
 
So, let ‘em fall like the rain 
Let ‘em roll down your face 
Let ‘em run like a river 
That carries your pain 
To the Savior with scars 
Right there holding your heart 
When you weep, 
He’s there weeping with you 
Jesus cries, too 
 
There’s no answer sometimes 
For the hurt that’s inside 
When the healing feels so far away 
But in the ache of your soul 
There’s a love that comes close 
And catches your tears when they’re all you can pray 
 
Refrain
 
At the edge of the grave 
In the valley of pain 
When the sadness won’t shake 
It’s true
When the suffering is long 
When you can’t see the dawn 
He feels all the sorrow with you 
Jesus cries too 
He’s never been closer 
It’s true Jesus cries too 
 
Refrain  
 

Homily for March 22

Above is a video of my homily today on Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  (If a video doesn't appear above, click here!

Here's the gospel on which I preached, followed by the text of my homily.

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.
 
So the sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death: it is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he remained in the place where he was for two days. Then, after this, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea. Our friend Lazarus is asleep - but I am going to awaken him.” But the disciples said to him, “Lord, if he’s asleep, he’ll be saved.”  But Jesus was talking about his Lazarus’ death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for your sake that I wasn’t there, so that you may believe. Let’s go to him.”

When Jesus finally arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many people had come out to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him; but Mary sat at home.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here -- my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God -- God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha replied, “I know he will rise, Lord - in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said,  “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

When Martha had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as Mary heard this, she rose quickly and went out to him, for Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. Now, when those who were with her in the house, comforting her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping and the people who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the people said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the eyes of that blind man have done something so that Lazarus wouldn’t have died?”

Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe  - you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And having said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

Now many of those who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done  began to believe in him.

 My homily... 

What a great story!


 A fine cast of interesting characters, and a lot more detail than the gospel usually gives us. • We learn of Jesus' special friendship with Lazarus and Martha, and Mary, his sisters. • We learn that Jesus delayed in going to visit them, even though he had received word that his friend was really sick. • We're told that Martha and Mary were deeply disappointed that Jesus hadn't come earlier to cure their brother and prevent his dying. • We see the curiosity and the wonder of the folks who had come to comfort the grieving sisters. 


And in this gospel, we're even told how Jesus FELT:

          “He became perturbed and deeply troubled.” 

 

I think a better translation of the original Greek in John's Gospel would go this way:

        “He was deeply moved. He shuddered in his spirit…”

 

And this story contains the shortest verse in the New Testament - but a compelling one: two words, John chapter 11, verse 35.

         “Jesus wept.”

 

If John's gospel had been a tabloid, I can imagine the front-page headline:

Jesus raids tomb!

An intimate behind-the-scenes look 

at Jesus, his friends, and his feelings.


Well, fortunately, John didn't write a tabloid. And Jesus didn't “raid” the tomb of Lazarus. But he did take charge of the situation - a situation that appears to be

                       Impossible… Irreversible… Unsolvable. 


A closed case.  Lazarus head is dead - and it's been four days. 


But still, Jesus instructs the bystanders to take away the stone that sealed the grave. And the gospel reports Martha's very practical response: 

                “Lord, my brother was buried four days ago.

                 If you open the tomb, there will be a stench.”

A stench.

 

In some old classical paintings of the raising of Lazarus, artists often depicted the people in the crowd literally holding their noses or covering their faces with veils and cloths, lest they become nauseous and sick.  Like St. John writing in his gospel, these artists wanted to make sure that we knew that Lazarus is really dead. Jesus isn't just waking up somebody who's taking a nap. He's not rousing somebody out of a coma.

He's messing with death.  And it smells bad.


This is Jesus: Jesus, who had already given sight to the blind… hearing to the deaf… speech to the mute… strong, agile limbs to the lame…and clean skin to the leprous.


But this - this is something altogether different.


Here, Jesus has power to give life to the dead.

He has power over what stinks in our lives - and in the world.

He has power over what makes us sick to our stomachs.

He has power over the stench that rises from death, 

   inflicted by violence, terror, and the horror of war.

Jesus has power over the foul smell 

   of abuse, prejudice, hatred, and injustice.


He has power over whatever entombs us when we're buried 

    in our fears and anxieties… 

    in our loneliness and grief… 

    in hopelessness or despair… 

    in our selfishness and greed… 

    in our lust and our anger… 

    in our jealousy and pride.


He has power over whatever may seem to us to be

               Impossible… Irreversible… Unsolvable. 


This morning, we are thousands of miles away from Bethany - more than 2,000 years away from this scene in the gospel - but the Lord is as close to us here in St. Zepherin's Church as he was to Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in the time of their grief and loss.


Jesus has power.

He has power in our lives.

Power to forgive the unforgivable,

    to save what's been lost,

    to mend what's been shattered into pieces,

    to heal what's been deeply wounded,

    to comfort those whose grief is unconsolable,

    to reconcile what's torn asunder,

    to resolve what defies solution,

    to restore what seems beyond redemption,

    to bring light that cuts through utter darkness.

    to bring hope to those who have lost all hope of hope,

    to bring peace that surpasses all our understanding.


He has power to bring life again to what death has claimed.


Jesus said to Martha,

        “I am the resurrection and the life.
        If you believe in me, even if you die, you will live.
        And all who live and believe in me will never die.
        Do you believe this, Martha?”
 

And she answered, 

           "Yes, Lord. I believe." 

 

Now Jesus asks us, you and I, this morning: 

    Do WE believe? 

    Do YOU believe?

    Do I believe in the power of Jesus?

    Do I acknowledge the power of Jesus 

        to be greater than any of my power? 

    Do I pray for the power of Jesus in my life?

    Do I hope for the power of Jesus in my life?

    Do I expect the power of Jesus in my life?

    Do I wait for the power of Jesus when he seems to delay?

    Do I welcome the power of Jesus 

            when he comforts and challenges me,

        as much as I welcome it 

            when he comforts and consoles me?

    Do I trust the power of Jesus:

        to do what seems impossible,

        to turn around what seems irreversible,

        to be the answer 

            to what seems unresolvable in my life?


Lent is a time for us to open ourselves to the power of the love Jesus has for each of us - and to the power of the love of Jesus for this world of ours.


As Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were Jesus’ close friends centuries ago - so are we as beloved now. As Jesus wept for Lazarus - he weeps for you and he weeps for me - today.


Not long after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he laid down his life for us. He “shuddered in his spirit” and gave himself on the cross - so that we might have life and have it to the full.


Like Lazarus, Jesus was entombed, buried for us so that we might be raised up. Jesus was tightly bound in burial bands so that we might be set free from all that binds us, all that ties our hands, all that keeps us down, all that robs us of our hope for peace.


The power of Jesus' love for us on the Cross and the life he won for us in his death - ARE - the power of the love and life we will share at this table this morning in his Body and Blood, in the Bread and Cup of the Eucharist.

 

The one who has power over death invites us to share in the sacrifice, to share in this meal, the gift and the presence of his life and love among us. Even this morning.

 

  

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3/21/26

Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 3/22


 
Like a chick hatching from its shell
so springtime emerges,
    cracking through the last thin ice of winter,
    breaking through to daylight, 
    warming towards the vernal sun,  
        afresh, anew, alive...
 
In the same way, Lord,
tap on my hard shell 'til I emerge,
reborn this Lenten spring:
    once again alive in you, 
    quickened by your rising,
    anointed by your Spirit,
    and  filled to overflowing
    with the joy your glory brings... 

Amen. 

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

 


  

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 3/21


Some people go to confession in Lent, especially as Easter draws near -- and even more people will not go to confession.  Whether we choose to go to the sacrament of reconciliation or not,  Lent is a time for all of us to stand before the Lord and review our lives, asking God's mercy and pardon for our sins.  Lent is the most excellent season for doing just this.  So, whether you're afraid to confess your sins - or - you think you have no sins to confess: let's all take some time to examine our lives, to acknowledge our sins and failings and to pray to the Lord for his mercy...

Help me to examine my life, Lord
    that I might name all the ways I stand in need 
        of your mercy, your grace and your pardon... 

- Do I love you, Lord? Do I worship you?  Do I pay more attention to false gods in my life (work, money, position, schedules, prestige, superstition, possessions) than I render to you, my one, true God? Do I make time every day to come to you in prayer?  Do I join the community on Sundays at mass?  Do I look and listen for how your Spirit moves in my life?   Do I make an effort to grow in my faith and in my knowledge of your Church and its teachings?  Do I thank you for all your gifts to me?  Am I careful not to use your name carelessly or crudely?  Do I reverence you in my thoughts, words and deeds?

- Do I love others, Lord?  Do I love the people I live with? the people I work with? the folks in my neighborhood, at my school, where I play? Have I abused anyone - physically, verbally, emotionally?  Do I speak unkindly to others - or about others?  Do I give my parents the love and respect they deserve?  Am I a good and faithful parent?  Am I good to my siblings? Am I faithful to my friends?  Do I reach out generously to the poor? Do I share my belongings with friends and family members?  Do I generously care for the needs of others before I take care of myself?   Do I invite other people into my group of friends?  Is there anyone or any group whom I exclude from my social circle? Do my prejudices and biases tempt me to excuse myself from loving some particular groups of people?  Do I reach out to those who are alone?  to those who are lonely? Do I respect and reverence human life in all its shapes and forms?

- Have I stolen, Lord?  Do I take what doesn’t belong to me?  Do I take things I haven’t paid for?  Have I damaged what belongs to others? Am I envious or jealous of what other people have?  Do I collect and hoard what I really don’t need while others go without life’s basic necessities?  Am I greedy or selfish?  Do I place too much importance on material goods?  Do I trust, Lord, that you will provide everything I truly need? Do I care for the earth as the common home I share with others? Do I abuse or waste what grows and nurtures, delights and refreshes, sustains and surprises all flora, fauna and humankind with your presence, beauty and glory? Do I work to protect and conserve all that nature provides for humankind?

- Do I tell the truth, Lord?  Do I stretch the truth?  Do I hide the truth?  Do I hide from the truth? Do I lie? Am I honest with you, Lord?  Am I honest with myself?  with my family?  with my coworkers and employers? with those I do business with? with my teachers and classmates?  with my friends and neighbors?  Am I fair in my dealings with others?   Do I object to injustice I see and work to make things right?  Do I cheat?  Do I take credit for work that’s not mine? Do I hold grudges or resentments? Do I gossip and spread rumors?  Do I contribute to damaging others’ reputations?  Do I forgive those who have hurt me?  Do I ask forgiveness of those whom I have hurt?  

- Do I take good care of my body, Lord?  Do I respect the gift of my body?  Do I eat a healthful diet?  Do I exercise in ways appropriate to my health and age? Do I get the rest I need? Have I abused my body with drugs, alcohol, food or medications? Have I respected my sexuality as a gift from you, Lord?  Have I respected the sexuality of other persons? Have I  been faithful to my spouse in thought, word and deed?  Have I taken advantage of another person for my own pleasure?  Do I take part in entertainment, web sites, conversations or jokes that fail to respect?

- Have I been faithful to my conscience, Lord? Do I work to form a conscience shaped by your word, your truth and your wisdom? Do I bring the gospel message to bear on my opinions? my politics? my attitudes? my voting?  Have I bowed to peer pressure and the “politically correct” rather than to you and your will for me?   Have I encouraged others to make poor choices or do what is wrong?

- Do I love you above all, Lord, with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind?  Do I love my neighbor as myself? Do I do what is just, love what is good and humbly walk by your side? Do I do to others as I would have them do to me?   Do I forgive others as you forgive me, Lord: freely and fully, with generous mercy?  

Whatever my faults, Lord,
    and however many my sins may be, 
when I come to you for your mercy,
    you're there, ready to meet me:         
        slow to anger, rich in kindness,
            loving and pardoning all...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
    and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
    and asleep, rest in your peace...
 
Amen.

Loving and Forgiving by Scott Soper
 
If the music widget below does not appear, click here! 



Loving and forgiving are you, 
O Lord; slow to anger, rich in kindness, 
loving and forgiving are you.  
 
1. All my being bless the Lord;  
bless the holy name of God.  
All my being bless the Lord,  
remembering the goodness of God.
 
2. God forgives us all our sins, 
healing those who live in pain,  
saving us from final death.  
God fills us with goodness and love.   
 
3. Good and gracious is the Lord,  
slow to anger, rich in love.  
God remembers not our sins;  
forgiving and loving is God. 

4. As heaven soars above the earth, 
so great the love of God for us. 
As far as east is from the west, 
the Lord takes our sins from us.
  

  

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