Easter 7/Year A - May 17, 2026

Scriptures: Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

Reflection by The Rev. Kathryn Snelling

Today is the seventh and final Sunday of Easter. 

It is also known as Ascension Sunday.

The feast of the Ascension comes 40 days after Easter - after the resurrection. 

And as Kit pointed out last week, it will always fall on a Thursday

But for those who do not have a service to attend on Thursday, we transfer the Feast day of the Ascension to the following Sunday

The Ascension is far too important an event to go unobserved, being one of the seven Principle Feasts of the church.

And I see the Ascension as particularly closely connected to two of the other principal feasts:

Christmas Day, when we celebrate God becoming human in the baby Jesus

and Easter when Jesus defeated sin and death through the resurrection of his human body

Christmas, Easter and the Ascension form a complete circle—the completion of the work he was given to do. 

As we heard in John’s gospel - as Jesus prayed during those final hours with his disciples - even before he went to the cross he prayed; “I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. Now Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory I had in your presence before the world existed.”

Then after the resurrection we have been reading the accounts of Jesus appearing to the disciples on various occasions - assuring them that he was truly alive; showing them his wounds, eating with them and opening their minds to understand the scriptures that were written about him.

Now it was probably unlikely that the disciples were counting the days Jesus was with them.

 But if they had they may have gotten an inkling that something momentous was about to happen.

Forty is a number that pops up throughout scriptures when something significant is happening: Noah was in the ark 40 days- the Israelites wandered in the desert 40 years- Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days and nights and so on.

But instead it appears that some thought that maybe now Jesus was going to oust the Romans and restore the kingdom of Israel.

Not yet quite understanding that he had established HIS Kingdom, the Kingdom of God 

A lot of focus is given to the disciples on the ground, staring up as Jesus ascends - their Rabbi and friend, leaving them again.

But there is another view - the one from heaven where all the angels and heavenly hosts are looking down, watching Jesus returning home as triumphant King.

Whereas the disciples watched with awe and probably a mixture of sadness and bewilderment—I imagine heaven watched with pure joy.

Before Jesus ascended, he again assured them that they were not being left alone - 

but that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon them — and says to them, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth.”

And of course they do and we will talk more about next week.

But today we understand that this is the same work we have been given to do:

We who have received Jesus into our hearts and know his transformative love - are

now to be witnesses and bearers of that love in our world.

To proclaim Jesus’s work of redemption and reconciliation - his showing and paving the way to a right relationship with God.

To spread the Good News, In our “Jerusalem”, our local neighborhoods, “Samaria” our connections in the wider community and “to the ends of the earth”, beyond our imaginations.

It is the  Church, the people who are Jesus’s body on earth.

I  finish with these words from Saint Teresa of Avila , a 16th century nun and priory of her convent.

Christ has no body but yours 

No hands, no feet on earth but yours

yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on the world 

yours are the feet with which he walks to do good

yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world

yours are the hands

yours are the feet 

yours are the eyes

you are his body

Christ has no body on earth now but yours  

Amen

Easter 6/Year A - May 10, 2026

Reflection by Deacon Kathryn Snelling

Easter 6 - May 10, 2026

The Rev Kathryn Snelling, Deacon

Happy Mother’s Day, again.

Now I ask you, was your mother like most mothers who often told you what to do?

She may not have called them commandments, but rules or sometimes just,  “Do what I say, young lady”

Often it was something like; say thank you or clean up your room, or do homework before going out to play, or eat your vegetables!

Did you eat your vegetables?

I didn’t. I do now. I love vegetables. But as a kiddo, not so much.

In fact I found a clever way to hide some of my vegetables. 

Growing up in a large family we had a long dining table with all the leaves extended.

Which provided some very nice little ledges - very handy for slipping in a few veggies.

And I got away with it. Until we were taking the table apart to move it and all these wizened up green beans came tumbling out onto the floor. Right where I had always sat. And right next to them were wizened up peas, where my baby brother sat.

Well, we were all grown by then and our mom just rolled her eyes.

But we do understand why our moms tell us to do these things. They want us to learn good manners. They want us to form good habits that will help us as we continue in school and through life. They want us to eat foods that nourish us so we grow strong and healthy. So, they don’t do it just to be bossy? No, it’s because they love us and want what is best for us. And when we are honest we realize that those “rules” did help and probably at least some stayed with us.

Jesus likened himself to a mother. A mother hen, actually. When he was lamenting about the people straying away from God. He said he wanted to be like a mother hen, gathering her chicks under her wings, but they would not come. He wanted to comfort and guide them.

In the Gospel reading today Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for a life without him being physically present. He wanted to comfort them and guide them. 

And he says to them, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

And although I will leave this world, you will see me because I will come to you.

I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.

He tells them that they know this Advocate already because he abides with them - as the person of Jesus.

But now, he, this Advocate, will abide in them. 

Now this is an amazing thing to say. And I wouldn’t be surprised if their eyes were starting to glass over. 

But he continues to say : On that day….. and I think we know what day that day is… it is fast approaching.  The day the Advocate arrives.

On that day you will know… that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you and the Advocate is in there and we start talking that triune language that makes the head spin when we try to put into words.

But then he brings it all back down to earth…

And says, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me and will be loved…”

Jesus is now speaking in the plural…beyond time and space – speaking to all disciples of every age and community.

So this wasn’t an exclusive club Jesus was addressing. He was addressing all who would come to put their trust in him.

Assuring all that we are not left alone. 

And just as the Holy Spirit guided and comforted the early disciples as they moved forward after the resurrection and ascension… through all sorts of challenges and struggles, some to martyrdom as they carried out their missions;

So, too does the Holy Spirit abide in each of us today who have his commandments and keep them. All who follow Jesus in his way of love.

Through all the challenges and struggles, ups and downs, joys and sorrows, the easy-pezie and the-bang-our-head against-a-rock kind of days.

Jesus is with us.

We have the

Advocate

Comforter

Intercessor 

Guide

Friend

Good Shepherd

Mother Hen

Holy and undivided Trinity

Come Holy Spirit

Easter 5/Year A - May 3, 2026

Scriptures: Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema, Worship Leader

Easter 4/Year A - April 26, 2026

Scriptures: Psalm 23; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

Reflection by Marianne Gould

The 23rd Psalm Through New Lenses

Many of us have probably had the opportunity to experience the wonderful world of optometry. My apologies to any eye doctors who might be in attendance. My first visit to the eye doctor was in 2nd grade as the letters on the chalkboard seemed fuzzy. The chalkboard... that's kind of a clue as to how many years I've been around. In middle school, it wasn't cool to wear glasses, so unless I was at home doing homework, I didn't wear them. Thankfully, the glasses I wore earlier in my life corrected my eyesight and for many years, I was able to function without any help.

But fast forward a few decades and the print was getting smaller and smaller, so I decided to get contacts. If I didn't tell anyone, no one would know I was wearing them! But... then came cataracts... the bane of aging America and the gift to Optometrists! New lenses were actually implanted in my eyes so I was able to navigate life with no glasses...until. As surely as winter will eventually turn to spring, I found that driving at night was not safe, even on familiar roads.

So why am I talking about eyesight? What does that have to do with the biblical text this morning? While the text this morning is from John 10: 1-10, there are many references throughout the Bible that refer to Jesus as the shepherd. In fact, google says that there are over 200 of them.

While I enjoy reading the familiar stories year after year, I am always trying to find new ways to experience the familiar. After all, each of us changes from day to day. And each time we read scripture, we see the text through our own changed lenses... through newly experienced perspectives.

The 23rd Psalm which has been attributed to David, is probably one of the best known Psalms in the Bible. Over the centuries, it has brought comfort to people in exile, people in celebration, and people in death. How could we ever see anything new and different in those words? But what if we looked at the words in that psalm through a lens of those who face poverty, food insecurity, injustice and marginalization?

In The Book of Common Prayer, the psalm's pivot is in the line about paths and "for God's sake." The lines before lead up to that couplet-and the lines after flow from it. .. The pivot reads: He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways/or his name's sake. In the King James version ... that phrase reads: He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

"right pathways" where God guides us on life's journey is very comforting.

With God in charge, we are comforted, assured that there's no way we can go astray. But that really isn't what life is about. There is still much suffering and anxiety on our journey!

I subscribe to a daily meditation published by the Center for Action and Contemplation lead by Father Richard Rohr. A few weeks ago when I was preparing today's message, Diana Butler Bass, author and Christian historian, wrote about the 23rd Psalm from the perspective of Robert Alter, a 90 year old, professor emeritus of Hebrew and comparative literature at the University of California at Berkeley. His perspective on this psalm opened my eyes and helped me to see this part of scripture through new lenses.

He points out that in scripture, the words right and righteousness are interchangeable with the word justice. In our North American context, we would not think to understand it that way! Very few middle-class church people would ever think of substitutingjustice for either word. Using the word justice in the sentence changes and contrasts sharply with the way we've always understood it.

Alter's version, however, grabs our attention as justice becomes the pivotal word in the psalm. Verses 1-3 reads:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. In grass meadows

He makes me lie down,

by quiet waters guides me. My life He brings back.

He leads me on pathways of justice

for His name's sake.

The psalmist proclaims, This is the reality of the Lord's government, the beloved community, over and against all oppression and exploitation. Through it, we humans are restored to what was always indeed: My life He brings back: Our lives He brings back.

Looking at Psalm 23 through this lens doesn't mean that we should remain content to lay in grass meadows by quiet waters. We are called and challenged to be citizens of the sacred realm of God... to walk with Jesus on these pathways of justice to make God's reign known throughout the world.

So... just how should we go about practicing this justice in today's world? I would like to suggest that we return to scripture and follow Jesus our shepherd.

Feed the hungry: collect food for those in need. (Salvation Army, manna meals, etc.

Clothe the naked: Support the White E, go through your closet and donate what you no longer wear

Speak up for those being taken advantage of: Challenge racism, ageism, sexism, misogyny, or any "ism" that separates us from neighbor.

Heal the sick: While many of us are not health professionals, we can all support clean water, clean air, promote healthy habits and perhaps drive people to doctor appointments.

Support your non-profits: Work together as a community... to benefit the community.

Not only is Jesus our Good Shepherd, we are encouraged to be a Good Shepherd to others by putting others before self, showing mercy to anyone in need, breaking down barriers, and showing love not just to those who look like us, think like us, or vote like us... but to all those people who just like us... were made in the image of the Divine. Let us follow Jesus on pathways of justice, over and against all oppression and exploitation. Through it we are restored to what God always intended for us. "My life He brings Back: Our lives He brings back.

Easter 3/Year A - April 19, 2026

Scriptures: Acts 2:14a,36-41; Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema, Worship Leader

19 April 2026, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Yr A

The Apostle Luke really knows how to tell a story – the best kind of story, one that leaves you waiting for more, that begs you to ask questions and look deeper. In today’s gospel, Luke tells a story about a mystery but he leaves the mystery for us to explore. So I began to look at today’s gospel in the spirit of that storytelling expertise.

In today’s reading, there were two disciples on the road. Who were they? One was named Cleopas. Or maybe Clopas. There is debate about his identity. His wife might have Mary who was present with Jesus’ mother Mary at the crucifixion. He might have been the brother of Joseph. His companion’s identity is lost to us, but they must have been good friends, friends who were on what might have been a deserted road going to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem. Emmaus means ‘hot springs,’ and there were several hot springs around Jerusalem. The exact location is a mystery.

I guess the walk would have been about 2 ½ hours. But in those fear-filled days, what were they doing out on the road? Why were they not in hiding with the others? Were they going home and planning to hide with their families? They were so engrossed in their grief and sadness, in deep conversation about the events of the past few days, they barely realized there was someone walking alongside them! Fortunately, it was not a Roman soldier who might have arrested them, or someone who meant them harm. When the stranger asked about their discussion, they willingly shared their story about the death of the teacher, the messiah they had been hoping for, the prophet who had died. But, they shared, some of the women of our group claim to have seen his tomb empty earlier in the day. Maybe he had risen and is alive? Maybe there is still hope?

The stranger listened to them, and then they listened to him as he began to tell them the things they should have remembered from the scriptures, the stories they had forgotten in their grief, the stories and lessons of the prophets that were about the teacher they were mourning. And the three continued walking.

As was common hospitality in those days, when they arrived at the village, the two men invited the stranger to come home with them, to stay them and share a meal. The story of the two disciples suddenly recognizing Jesus as he began to bless and share their meal is awesome and startling, as is the image of Jesus suddenly disappearing from their sight. As shocked as they were, they knew this was a story to be shared. The two immediately began a hurried 7-mile journey back to Jerusalem as night was falling. When they arrived and began to tell the others Jesus had appeared to them in the breaking of the bread, they heard that others had seen Jesus too.

This was the last we heard of Cleopas and his companion in the gospels, but these two leave us with a lot of questions. As I thought about some of the mysteries – and clues - Luke gave us, I realized Cleopas and his companion were more than just two people in a short passage of the Bible. These two left us a blueprint for discipleship!

Our faith, our being disciples of Jesus, doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and Cleopas and his companion show us that. Even in their grief and later in their amazement, they were sharing the words that would bring Jesus to the world, the good news, the hard news, the news of love. When a stranger appeared, they openly and honestly shared with him. And then they listened!! They didn’t assume the stranger had nothing to say about Jesus. They listened to the words the stranger offered and they learned from him. They offered companionship and a meal. And when they realized their companion was the risen Christ, they immediately returned to share the story.

Our baptismal covenant could have been written from the story of Cleopas and his companion. Let’s take a look at the covenant - I invite you to turn to page 293 of our prayer book and follow along.

The covenant begins: ‘Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?’ Cleopas and his friend lived this promise as they walked, shared words of good news, and shared a table, a home, a meal with a ‘stranger.’

And the covenant continues: ‘Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?’ The two disciples did not give in to the snare of fear and grief, or to the idea that they might know everything about Jesus. They allowed their eyes to be opened to the presence and blessings of Jesus.

‘Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?’ In all their actions, Cleopas and his friend showed us what sharing the Good News looks like.

‘Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?’ Greeting strangers and showing hospitality, sharing a meal and a safe refuge are some of the many ways we can show love to our neighbors.

‘Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?’ Not knowing who he was, the disciples treated the stranger on the road as an equal, as someone who deserved to be heard, fed and given sanctuary. They didn’t question his beliefs, his origins, or his intentions. They saw someone like themselves, with needs to be met and a story to tell.

They showed us how to be disciples.

Thanks be to God!

Easter 2/Year A - April 12, 2026

Scriptures: Psalm 16: Acts 2:14a,22-32: Canticle 13, A Song of Praise; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Canticle 18, A Song to the Lamb: John 20:19-31

Reflection by Marianne Gould

“I'll believe it when I see it!” - Walking the trail - Trusting in the Resurrection

Reflection by Marianne Gould

The Apostle Thomas, the primary topic of the Gospel today, is often referred to a Doubting Thomas... as someone less than... someone who is a day late and a dollar short of witnessing the Resurrected Jesus... the Christ. I guess if I had to choose an adjective to go with my name, "Doubting" isn't the worst thing to be known by. The Risen Christ first appeared to Mary Magdalene and the women.

When they told of the resurrection, the disciples did not believe. The Risen Christ appeared to the disciples, later that day, when they were locked away in an upper room. They saw Jesus. They talked with him, they spent time with him. They saw...they believed. Mary Magdalene and the women saw Jesus

resurrected... they believed! The disciples saw Jesus resurrected in the upper

room ... they believed! Thomas did not see the Risen Christ. He only heard about it. It is not surprising that Thomas was doubtful of their story! It seems that even in Jesus' time... seeing was believing.

In verse 25, Thomas said "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." Thomas could not believe that Jesus was alive, even though that's what his friends were telling him! He hadn't seen it! How could he be sure!

Can you relate to Thomas' predicament? This event happened thousands of years ago, but even in today's world, how can we be sure that what we hear is the truth? Isn't it more likely that we are skeptical of what we hear? We prefer to see it for ourselves and hear it with our own ears... then, and only then... perhaps we can believe. With all the misinformation and disinformation floating around these days on social platforms, it is more than a challenge to separate fact from fiction.

What and Who can we believe ... and what needs to be thrown out and locked away? Is our faith one that blindly believes what we are told...or do we sometimes doubt. .. just like Thomas?

As a part of my study in writing sermons, it has become my practice to read several translations of the text. I don't do this because I do not believe what the text says. I read several texts in order to help me understand what is being said.

Looking through a different perspective may shine a light on the text and help me look deeper into God's word.

One of the translations I used for this text is The First Nation's Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. l Peter 1: 9 says: "For your trust in him is bringing you to the end of the trail, where your whole being will be set free and made whole." Isn't that a beautiful way of looking at the Resurrection? In thinking about all the beautiful hiking and walking trails in Sitka... stepping forward along these trails with Jesus, we can affirm our faith even when we cannot see. "For your trust in him is bringing you to the end of the trail, where your whole being will be set free and made whole." That translation, especially within all the beauty in Sitka, feels much more meaningful than "for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

The next thing I noticed is that when Thomas was able to be with Jesus, Jesus did not ridicule him, belittle him, laugh at him or chastise him in any way. Jesus merely said, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.''

In the Indigenous Translation of the New Testament John 20: 27 says "Look closely at my hands and touch my scars with your finger. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Then put away your doubts and trust in me."

Hearing Jesus' voice encouraging Thomas to see and feel his wounds is so reaffirming. Jesus is giving Thomas (and us) permission to doubt, to ask questions, to be skeptical. Jesus is not ashamed of his wounds. He shows the signs of the wounds to his disciples, all the external wounds Jesus experienced at the hands of the Roman Empire.

In the book Barking to the Choir, Father Gregory Boyle, who leads an organization for gang members trying to get their lives straight, he tells the story of Sergio. "I wore 3 t-shirts to school to hide my mother's beatings, cuz I was ashamed of my scars....But now I welcome my wounds. I run my fingers over my scars. My wounds are my friends. After all, how can I help others heal if I don't welcome my own wounds?"

We too all have wounds... some that can be seen and some that are hidden in the recesses of our psyche. Thomas' story is a reminder that we are not alone. Jesus had wounds too. The disciples had wounds from this as well. They had run from perceived danger. They had fallen asleep when he prayed. They had disappeared when he needed them... and they had even denied knowing him ... yet he showed no anger. Jesus did not seek retribution for their lack of faith. He did not chastise them for the weakness of their faith. Jesus had already embraced his wounds.

A few Sundays ago, Nancy Jo Bleier in her meditation, gave some beautiful examples of how different cultures embrace their wounds. I spent some time that following week thinking about my own wounds, both those you might see or even those I try to keep hidden. Have I learned to embrace them ... no longer feeling shame or anger? Have I worked through those wounds enough that I can help others to heal? Or do I try to hide them and hope that no one will notice them? Am I willing to be in conversation with the Holy Spirit so that I can help others by sharing my experience, strength and hope?

In verse 22 of the NRSV, Jesus breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." In the first nation version "He blew his breath on them and said, "You will breathe in and receive the Holy Spirit." Accompanied by the Holy Spirit all the disciples are S EN T out to share their experience, strength and hope. You might be saying to yourself.. .I cannot do that. I am afraid of speaking of Jesus and his resurrection.

Rumi, a 13th century Persian Sufi wrote "Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" The disciples' experience of being locked in a room out of fear is one that many of us understand. Fear often feels like a prison, and what we are afraid of can truly be a threat to our mental and physical well-being. The resurrection, however, opens the prison door, and the Spirit that Jesus breathed on the disciples enabled them to be sent. The Spirit that Jesus breathed on them that day is the same Spirit that Jesus B R E A T H E S on us today. You are called and sent into the world today to make a difference. "Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?" Amen

Easter/Year A - April 5, 2026

Reflection by Rev. Kathryn Snelling, Deacon

Scriptures: Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 28:1-10

You would have noticed that for this Easter, we have several choices of scripture readings, even two for the Gospel. I chose this particular telling of the story  from the Gospel of Matthew because I really like the images

Of course it begins in gloom -  Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary are returning to the tomb, the same place where they saw Jesus‘s body being laid to rest, and they fully expect to find it just as they left it. The body of their beloved friend and teacher sealed in the tomb, secured behind a large stone.

But then the sudden turn of events,  the earth shakes and an angel, clothed in dazzling white descends from heaven. 

The soldiers that the Pharisees had sent to guard the tomb fall back and faint from fear.

The Angel rolls the large stone away from the opening of the tomb and sits on it.

That’s an image that I particularly like and perhaps it’s the angel trying to help calm the women but more than that. I think it speaks that that’s the only usefulness for this stone - a perch. For it certainly did not keep Jesus in the tomb, in fact, it didn’t need to be rolled away for Jesus to be out of the tomb he was already gone, but it was open for the women to see and the other disciples and he says, “do not be afraid I know who you’re looking for, he is not here  for he has been raised from the dead, as he said he would -  come and see”.

And then the angel gives them a charge: “Go tell his disciples that Jesus is raised from the dead and he will meet them in Galilee”.

And so they start out. And they are truthful - they still feel fear but also great joy. Joy welling up inside with this wonderful message they have to share.

And then Jesus meets them on their way. With a simple “Greetings”.

They recognize him immediately — run and wrap themselves around his feet.

And he says to them, “Do not be afraid”.  But this is not, “be not afraid of me”,  as they obviously are not.

Rather, do not be afraid, but go and tell MY BROTHERS.

Go, my sisters, and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.

That message really has not changed much in the two thousand plus years since it was first relayed by these women.

We too, are to not be afraid but to go share the good news of Jesus crucified and risen!

The good news of a love so unimaginable, so unfathomable — a love that is offered to all.

I love that he tells them to go to Galilee. The place where their life with Jesus  started.

I think that we, too, are called to go back to the beginning.  Called back together, as we retell the story. But also individually. Back to whatever shore of Galilee where you began your journey with Jesus. And if you have not begun your journey, He will meet you wherever you are on life’s road. As He continues to meet us as we journey through this life and spread His love in the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Easter is not a single day, but a way of living.

Every act of kindness, of love , of mercy, is an Easter Moment.

We live as Easter People, living out our promises to love and follow Jesus in His Way of Love.

So I invite you to turn to page 292 in the Book of Common Prayer and together let us renew our Baptismal Vows.

Good Friday/Year A - April 3, 2026

There was no sermon for this service.

Palm Sunday/Year A - March 29, 2026

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema, Worship Leader

Scriptures: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11: Matthew 26:14-27:66

29 March 2026, Palm Sunday, Yr A

Finally, we are here. Palm Sunday. It’s been a busy week!

Last Sunday we heard the story of Lazarus, who died and was raised to life when Jesus called him out of the tomb. When Jesus beckoned, Lazarus said, Yes! At the end of her reflection on letting light shine through the cracks of brokenness and realizing that God is always with us, Nancy Jo shared a quote from Westina Matthews in Living Well Through Lent: “Let us hold our broken world— and our own brokenness—in compassion, light, and love. For God’s love reigns forever, forgiveness is the key, reconciliation is the goal, and love is always, always, the answer.”

It is only by the chance of moon cycles and calendar dates that we celebrated the Annunciation this last Wednesday, when the angel known as Gabriel visited Mary, a teenager of Nazareth, to let her know she would be pregnant with a child who would be called the Son of the Most High. After questioning the angel, Mary said, Yes!

In Friday’s daily office gospel reading, after Jesus told the twelve gathered disciples what would soon happen to him – his arrest and death - James and John, sons of Zebedee, asked Jesus to grant them honored status beside him in his glory. They didn’t know what they were asking. When Jesus asked if they could do what he was about to do, they immediately said Yes!, still not knowing.

Yesterday, in one of my favorite gospel readings, a blind man named Bar Timaeus cried out to Jesus to restore his sight. As his sight returned, Bar Timaeus said, Yes!, and began to follow Jesus.

This week, in this very special season, we are asked to say yes to following Jesus through his journey into Jerusalem, to the upper room, the garden, the courts of the religious and secular leaders, and along the streets of the city to the place of his death.

In so many ways, on so many levels, this is a difficult, challenging time. I encourage you, as we move through this holiest of times individually and as a community, to give yourself and each other what I like to call ‘Space and Grace.’ Take care of yourselves. Take care of one another. Do what you can, when you can.

As we say yes and work to follow Jesus on this demanding path, the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie writes: ‘In this season, the church encourages her people to grieve and grieve deeply. . . . . In Holy Week the church provides the time to grieve, to break open our hearts of stone, to allow shattering and crumbling and the necessary softening to receive the sacred gifts only grieving confers. Hearts of flesh, perhaps. A new life, represented by deep and universal compassion.’

And so we say yes and we begin. Amen

Fifth Sunday in Lent/Year A - March 22, 2026

Reflection by Nancy Jo Bleier, Worship Leader

Scriptures: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45; Psalm 130

Reflection 3/22/26 5th Sunday in Lent

Nancy Jo Bleier, Worship Leader

Brokenness

Have you ever broken a dish, a piece of jewelry, a tool or a bone in your body? A relationship with some one you had cared about is broken. Someone close to you has died; someone you have been attached to physically, emotionally and spiritually. Did someone say “don’t cry over spilled milk”? Or “just get over it.” How were you feeling? Alone. Feeling broken; cracked open. Feeling separated from anything familiar including your faith.

Many words have been said and written about being broken. There is music, poems and scripture. I think of country western songs and Leonard Cohen’s song, Anthem. There is Kintsugi the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Culturally it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

Today’s scripture reminds us that the world Jesus was living in was broken.

The story starts with Lazarus being ill but Jesus stays two days longer before heading back to Judea. The disciples are worried as some people were trying to kill Jesus so they ask why would you go there again? Jesus answers: “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they have the light from the Sun. But those who walk at night stumble, because they can not see where to go.” Jesus then tells them that Lazarus is a sleep but has to go on to explain that “Lazarus is dead”. That he has to go back to give them new grounds for believing.

For me this stood out in some of Leonard Cohen’s Anthem words:

“Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack, a crack in everything

That’s how the light in gets in

That’s how the light in gets in

That’s how the light in gets in”

So Jesus and the disciples go to Bethany finding Lazarus is dead and has been for four days. There is much weeping; from friends, and sisters Mary and Martha. Scripture tells us that Jesus began to weep; he was greatly disturbed or another translation said he also was angered. He told them to take him to the tomb. But Martha was upset as she knew the stench will be awful. Jesus says: “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory God?”

The stone in front of the cave was removed. Jesus testified to all who present: “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me”.

Then he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus did come out wrapped in cloth as was the custom of burials; Jesus said “Unbind him and let him go”. This truly was a miracle but one that would have consequences down the road.

Brokenness. Is it being separated from God? What do we need if we are broken or think we are separated from God? How can you and I be unbound to realize that God is with us all the time?

Christine Sine wrote a poem called Stay Close to the Cracks.

Stay close to the cracks,

To the broken places,

where people weep

and cry out in pain.

Stay close to the cracks,

Where God’s tears fall,

and God’s wounds bleed

for love of us.

Stay close to the cracks,

Where the light shines in,

and grass pushes up

through concrete.

Stay close to the cracks,

Where wounds

open doorways

to healing and wholeness

and life.

As Westina Matthews wrote in today’s Living Well Through Lent “Let us hold our broken world— and our own brokenness—in compassion, light, and love. For God’s love reigns forever, forgiveness is the key, reconciliation is the goal, and love is always, always, the answer.” Amen.