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.