Fifth Sunday of Lent – Passion Sunday
Sunday 29th March 2020
As public worship has been suspended in a bid to limit the spread of the Coronavirus the service for Passion Sunday was recorded and made available online. That can be found here.
Lent 5
Ezekiel 37.1–14
John 11 17-27
Dr Ken Scott
At first sight that vision the prophet Ezekiel had in the passage we read seems strange and even terrifying. It’s like the scene of a long-forgotten battle with dry bones strewn over a valley floor. it’s not just that God is trying to frighten Ezekiel; there’s a purpose behind it. The people of Israel were
having one of their frequent spells of despair. They were like lifeless dried up bones cut off and with no hope. So God says to Ezekiel “can these bones live?” And Ezekiel replies “I don’t know, but you do Lord. If you want to you can do it.”
And so we have the picture of the breath of God coming like a wind and breathing new life into the bones and they come to life again. The word is ruach, the breath of Spirit of God that breathes life at creation that came to the early church at Pentecost and that is the promise of Christ to us today. We’re a bit like a set of individual bones coming together to form a body, the body of Christ, and we’ve been given new life just like Lazarus was by Jesus.
Now you may not be able to meet in a church building at present but we’re still the church, with all that that involves. We’re still able to worship, to pray, and to serve, with the Spirit’s help. The image of the bones coming together to form a body also reminds us of Paul’s description of the varied gifts and talents the members of the church are given by the Spirit. Bones only function when they were attached to other bones and all the bones are different. Different sizes, different shapes and different functions. We’re all going through a uniquely difficult time in our lives.
It might seem that we are forgotten, like dried up bones, but as Christians we all have something to contribute to this situation using our spiritual gifts. They’re different but complimentary. Already we have seen the members of our community offering help to those who need it most and church members are playing their part in that. If you need help or can offer it, please get in touch. And if you say “well I’m isolated from everyone at the moment, what can I possibly do?” let me suggest two simple things. One, you can phone someone – a friend, a neighbour, a family member, somebody you haven’t seen for years, possibly. Don’t wait for them to phone, you you phone them. And the second thing you can do is pray for them. It doesn’t have to be complicated or wordy. Something short like “Dear God I’m thinking about John and Mary today. Please support them at this difficult time.” Simple is often best.
Can these bones live? Yes they can, with the power of the Spirit of God and then when they’re full of life and come together as a body they can reach out to others bringing the love of God into their lives. May God enable us all to play our own unique part.
Amen