Sit

Meanwhile, let's revisit Lazarus' story here.
I suggested yesterday that we need to "sit" with this story a bit longer, not rushing ahead to the happy ending, much as we might want to.

This is a family story. Martha and Mary are really important to the early Christian church. They show up in two of the gospels.You'll remember the story in Luke where Jesus was being entertained in their home. Martha was being the good hostess, slaving away in the kitchen while Mary listened to Jesus, chatting in the parlor and not remembering her proper place as a good Jewish woman. There was no mention of their kid brother Lazarus in that story. Lazarus arrives in John's gospel.

Commentaries suggest the sisters must have been important. John introduces Mary as "the woman who anointed Jesus" but if we're reading carefully, we might notice that hasn't "yet" happened in Jesus' story. And yet it is such an identifier that the gospel writer can't help but mention it now. Followers of Jesus knew who the woman was! She's one of those women who don't do what they're supposed to. An "uppity woman"!

Now we find the family in mourning for their brother who has died. Our modern ears hear the story differently than those first century ears heard it. Their brother has died. It is four days after has was buried; the good Jewish family is "sitting shiva" and grieving. We may have wondered about the crowds around. Of course there were people. They are coming to provide for the women who must do nothing for themselves for seven days. They can't leave the house. It is the required mourning ritual.

That is what Mary does. She stays inside as is proper. This time it is Martha who rushes our to meet Jesus. This time it is Martha who is "uppity" as it is entirely improper for her to leave the house to meet this visitor, no matter how close a friend he is. She is the one who is behaving unconventionally. She is the one to speak bluntly to Jesus and then to return and bring Mary into the conversation.

It is Martha who is the first woman in scripture to identify Jesus as the Messiah. But she is the practical one who suggests it may not be such a good idea to open the tomb. Yes, she believes, but really is this possible?

And Jesus? What does Jesus do? He weeps. He too for a time sits with the grief that has come to this family he loves.

There is just so much more in this story than these few words can tell. Let us sit with it for a bit and let us change us as it will.

Posted by Marion

Straight

Today I drove straight down Victoria avenue and back--that's right straight both ways! It's been months, maybe years since that has been possible! Our town has been, still is, experiencing a great deal of construction work. We've benefited hugely from the infrastructure stimulus spending of the past year or so. So much so that it has been virtually impossible to get from here to there without navigating through detours, around construction sites, heavy machinery, flag people, teeth-shattering potholes or huge step-downs or step-ups between levels of asphalt pavement dips and rises.

You know that sign "Expect delays" ? Well we did, and we do. It isn't over yet as relatively mild weather makes it possible for several projects to just keep going.

Nevertheless, some things are getting finished! Our Stevenson & Speedvale intersection was completed in time for Mission Conference. The hospital corner at Delhi and Eramosa is open, with some cosmetics to be completed--according to the sign that tells passers-by "We're working on our inner beauty."

We have many of these comforting signs as our city administrators have hired a public relations firm to put these messages of encouragement in the midst of a city torn up and making our driving life miserable.

All this is a long story about what I set out to share. As I was driving down this newly paved and smooth thoroughfare I was singing to myself that wonderful song from Handel's Messiah Comfort Ye My People especially the parts about the crooked straight, and the rough places plain...

This time of Advent, this season of waiting, may feel like a city under construction. So many rough places, so many crooked ways, so much to do, such a long time to suffer without comfort. And yet we wait.

Sitting in a detour or awaiting release from a traffic delay we might be muttering grumpily about what we should be doing, could be doing, ought to be doing. Or we could be reflecting in this moment of grace, provided freely with nothing at all to do but wait.

Advent is meant to be a time of reflection, of meditation and self-examination. It lasts four weeks for good reason. Sometimes it takes that long to shake us out of our normal habits and attitudes. Advent comes at the darkest time of the year. We, with Handel, may spend some time in the writings of Isaiah, remembering that even in our times of exile God is with us, remembering us even when we forget.

Be comforted. But don't be in too big a hurry. The way will be made straight, the rough places plain in God's good time. Slow down so you don't rattle your bones.

Posted by Marion