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| Image by Sherry Coman |
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A GREETING
I trust in your love;
my heart rejoices
in the deliverance you bring.
(Psalm 13:5)
A READING
When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Since Bethany was only about two miles from Jerusalem, many people had come out to console Martha and Mary about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary stayed at home with the mourners. When she got to Jesus, Martha said, “If you had been here, my brother would never have died! Yet even now, I am sure that God will give you whatever you ask.” “Your brother will rise again!” Jesus assured her. Martha replied, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the Resurrection, and I am Life: those who believe in me will live, even if they die; and those who are alive and believe in me will never die. “Do you believe this?” “Yes!” Martha replied. “I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, God’s Only Begotten, the One who is coming into the world.”
(John 11:17-28)
MUSIC
Shot in Iceland on the winter solstice, the artists marked each hour of daylight in the short time it was available with a song. Today's music includes two of the songs, heard back-to-back. How might we hear the voice of Martha in the second one?
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
You who seek God, take heart!
(Psalm 69:32)
A POEM PRAYER
Oh God, who am I now?
Once, I was secure in familiar territory
in my sense of belonging
unquestioning of
the norms of my culture
the assumptions built into my language
the values shared by my society.
But now you have called me out and away from home
and I do not know where you are leading.
I am empty, unsure, uncomfortable.
I have only a beckoning star to follow.
Journeying God,
pitch your tent with mine.
from "Oh God who am I now? by Kate Compston
found in The Flowering of the Soul: A Book of Prayers by Women
Edited by Lucinda Vardey
VERSE OF THE DAY
Wait for God—stand tall
and let your heart take courage!
Yes, wait for God!
(Psalm 27:14)
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| "Floating," by Ayana Otake (2011). In our final image by this artist, the subject looks straight at us, modestly dressed and unadorned except for a tsubaki, a red flower that represents beauty and grace in Japanese culture. A gentle glow surrounds the figure, a way of underlying her inner beauty. |
The Greek word for 'heart' is the word most often used by translators for other parts of the torso when they come up in the biblical story. The heart feels accessible to readers in their view perhaps, and makes more sense to us in our contemporary lives as the part of the body responsible for the source of all life. But as we have seen over the past two days, the ancient world experienced it differently. The heart was believed to be more closely aligned with thought, intention, and moral decision. It is almost an intellectual understanding of the word, and yet it also can mean desire in the sense of spiritual longing. All that is hidden, pertaining to the inner self and morality of the human being, was believed to be in their heart.
Once a week until Holy Week, we are visiting the story of the raising of Lazarus, moving through its parts, with the lens of the body. (You can find last week's page here.) Despite that the disciples have come with him to Judea, Jesus appears to be alone as he approaches Bethany. The mourners have gathered at the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus to sit with the bereaved sisters. Nonetheless, Martha goes out to the road to meet Jesus, likely seeking privacy in order to ask the questions weighing on her.
After they have met up on the dusty road outside the village, the conversation focuses on what it means for Jesus to raise Lazarus. Martha holds the Jewish belief that a messiah will come and raise all the dead in the last days. Jesus speaks right away into this understanding and in doing so reassures her that Lazarus won't be dead for long. Within a few conversational brushstrokes, Martha understands what he means.
This quiet moment of Jesus standing on the road with his friend is one in which time seems to have rolled to a stop. They are dwelling in ideas of eternal life and of the time of resurrection. Jesus is saying that those who believe in him will never die, though they will die in the corporeal sense. Martha's confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah reinforces what Jesus is saying and is a remarkable proclamation, made with confidence.
Although the word for "heart" does not appear in this part of the story, the exchange between Martha and Jesus beautifully embodies the ancient understanding of the word. They are meeting each other with honest reckoning, with spiritual longing, and with the capacity to find moral ground within a crisis. They are grieving but they are also looking ahead to what can be. Jesus has met Martha exactly where she is, in her great capacity for organization, detail, understanding, action. Theirs is a precious and hallowed exchange.
When have you had a sober, intelligent and deeply significant conversation that reoriented you to something new in your life? How can you reflect on that time today, giving thanks for the conversation partner, and for the shared "heart" you had for decisions that were made?
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| Image by Sherry Coman |
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Scripture passages are taken from The Inclusive Bible.
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LC† From Dust, Still Holy is a devotional series of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!