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The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.
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LMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only
gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service;
Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that
we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In reality, there is no such thing as the dead in the
Kingdom of Heaven to which every believer goes at the point of his departure
from this life. If we believe that we immediately are in the arms of the Lord
at the point of death, how blessed to know that we are in the best state of
being we have ever been in our continuing life.
Following Christ means following all of the way – in
life, in compassion, in sacrifice, in the death of the cross, in burial, but
also in resurrection.
Let us first consider a man that died to the world - a
beggar named Lazarus – Luke 16:20-23:
19 There was a certain rich man, which was
clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate,
full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell
from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels
into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham
afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
We are
comforted to see the disparity in the fates of Lazarus and the rich Man.
Lazarus died to this life, but his soul and spirit were immediately given a
divine escort to the bosom of Abraham. But what of the Rich man? He died, was
buried, and opened his eyes in Hell. He didn’t even have a name since a name is
not needed in Hell.
We see another Lazarus who was friend to Jesus at Bethany
in John 11.
1 Now
a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town
of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary which
anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose
brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him,
saying, Lord, behold,
he whom thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the
glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.5 Now
Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When
he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same
place where he was. 7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. (John 11:1-7)
11 These
things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may
awake him out of sleep. 12 Then
said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit
Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest
in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may
believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. (John
11:11-15)
25 Jesus
said unto her, I am the
resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall
never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)
43 And
when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound
hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin.
Jesus saith unto them, Loose
him, and let him go. (John 11:43-44)
The body,
heart, mind, and ears of Lazarus were completely dead. In fact, decay had set
in after four days in the tomb; yet, the voice of our Lord penetrated the stone
walls of the tomb, entered the dead ears of Lazarus, penetrated into the membranes
of ad cold, dead heart – and, SUDDENLY – there was warmth there. The warmth was
followed by a vibrant heartbeat that began to expedite life-giving blood to all
parts of the body of Lazarus. The command of Jesus to “Come Forth” was promptly
obeyed by the formerly lifeless body of Lazarus.
God of
the LIVING
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead,
have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God
is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matt 22:31-32)
God is the
God of the living and not the dead. If He is your Lord, you will not be subject
to the bondage of death.
