"and on those in the tombs bestowing life:" a sermon on the raising of Lazarus for Evensong of Easter 3
sermon preached in Merton Chapel for Evensong of Easter 3 Psalm 86; Isa 38: 9-20; John 11: 17-44 A few years ago, some American Episcopalian friends introduced me to Lent Madness: an online knockout tournament between saints from every period of Christian history. From Ash Wednesday to the end of Holy Week, the 32 saints nominated from the start of the tournament are whittled down to one, the saint of the year, who is celebrated as the winner of the Golden Halo – via rounds highlighting the saints’ stories, quirky quotes and saint-themed tat. It’s exactly as much fun as it sounds. This year’s winner was Martha of Bethany: and, having followed her through the tournament from the Round of 32 all the way to the Golden Halo, I have come to think that Martha is both interesting and important – important in what she says and does, and also an important element in the structure of John’s Gospel where she is the catalyst for Jesus to reveal himself as the resurrection and ...