Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 22nd March - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - and for the week ahead:Scripture: John11.38-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus From the DeadJesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”So they took away the stone…Then Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”Reflection:In John’s Gospel Jesus’s miracles are described as ‘signs’. They are like signposts, pointing to Jesus as the divine Son of God, with power and authority over nature and death itself. Yet some of those who actually witness Lazarus emerging from the tomb are so outraged at Jesus not conducting himself according to their rules and their authority that they make up their minds to have him killed. It was bad enough that he healed the sick and restored sight to the blind, but now he is actually raising the dead to life.This cannot be allowed! He must be stopped, once and for all.They did indeed kill him. But as we know, that was not the end. Far from it. Lord, save us from obstinacy and hardness of heart. Give us faith and humility, and open our eyes and hearts to receive your blessings which are ‘more than we can either imagine or desire’.Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen
Scripture - Collect for Mothering SundayGod of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself: strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal.ReflectionOn this Mothering Sunday, we are reminded through the words of the Collect that we are all joined together as one human family, called to live in peace and harmony with one another.Mothering is a quality that we are all capable of, regardless of gender. We are each called to share the love of Jesus Christ—love that he gave freely for us on the cross—with those around us.While we may not be able to change everything that is happening in the wider world, we can make a difference in our own corner of it. Showing compassion and care for those around us, both within our families and in the wider community, is one way of “mothering” the people in our lives.Sometimes this takes courage. Jesus showed that courage through the way he gave his life so that we might experience eternal life. May we be inspired by his example to share love, kindness, and compassion with all those we meet.Lyn Hayes ALM
