April 2, 2007
(Monday in Holy Week)
Danger Around the Edges
By
The Very Rev. Terry White,
Dean
Isaiah 42:1-9; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11; Psalm 36:5-11
(From The
Lectionary Page)
John often tells stories which feature priests or scribes or others sitting around the edges, commenting on, taking issue with, or condemning what Jesus teaches or does. Thus, at several places in his Gospel, John weaves glimpses of the Kingdom of God with the reactions of those who oppose the in-breaking of that same Kingdom. And the sad irony is that most often, the religious leaders, those who should have been the first to recognize what was happening, are those who cannot see the Messiah in their midst.
When Lazarus was raised from the dead, they could not celebrate the
new life Jesus brought, they could not enter into resurrection joy
and thanksgiving. Instead, they chose to respond to new life with
death, conspiring to have Jesus put to death from that point on.
Now, as Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, this extravagant gesture of
love and worship causes the chief priests to again respond with
death, and it is decided that Lazarus, too, must die. The Life Giver
and the Recipient must both die, eradicating all signs of new life.
Often we find that new life not only creates joy and thanksgiving,
but also causes lifeless responses. In our lives, in the life of the
Church, in our world, too often signs of new life and hope are met
with opposition. Like John’s chief priests hanging around the edges,
threats and betrayal and death often seek to defeat the love of God
expressed in radically new ways of living out the promises of God.
Perhaps it is fear, or bitterness, or an inability to respond to
love with love, but the new life given us by the Lord of Life will
always be seen by some as a threat that must be eliminated. Thus, it
takes courage to submit to new life. It takes courage to love
extravagantly. It takes courage to die to self, that we might be
raised a new creation.
As we walk the way of the Cross in this Great Week, let us focus
both on the new life that is offered if we die to self, and on the
life-giving response we are called to share with the world, as
baptized people and together as the Body of Christ.
A blessed Holy Week to us
all –
Terry +