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Bible Reading: John Chapter
7, Verses 11-17
Most priests will have had the
sad task of burying a young child in their ministry. The
Church will be full, whatever you say frankly has really
little meaning – the feeling of pain and loss is everywhere.
Grieving will go on for years – the life of the family will
never be that same. Everyone will suffer grandparents,
parents and friends. – often there is anger and disbelief.
The clergy are there to share these emotions. One of the
charity trees at the Christmas Tree Festival in December
will be for Rebecca’s Wishes for a child who died just as
she was reaching adolescence – the parents have shown great
courage after this tragedy. I was with Rebecca hours before
she died in Quindenham Hospice. She had a brain tumour – she
was a very beautiful child.
Today is many parts of Africa
with the aids epidemic not going away but actually growing
this loss will be seen in many countries. Countless children
abandoned as they lose their mothers, countless families
loosing their children because they have been born with the
aids virus. We may worry about economic recession in this
country, but frankly this is a plague of extraordinary and
vicious proportions affecting all.
So we can understand the sight
that greeted Jesus in the town of Nain..
He saw a procession like many
processions in his time of mourners carrying the dead boy
outside of the city to be buried. Probably he had only died
hours before because it was the custom to bury by sunset.
The noise of wailing would be everywhere – this is a
terrible tragedy.
With all the tragedy Jesus
responds to the weeping and wailing and touches the coffin
bier and then he said to the boy ‘Arise’, and the boy sat up
and began to speak. We see all the symbols of the
resurrection and the reminder that soon Lazarus would be
raised from the grave. Jesus can do anything – he can even
raise the dead. But of course he was not first.
Many seeing the sight would be
reminded of the Old Testament of Elijah raising of the child
of the woman in Zerephath and so saving the mother a life of
begging and loneliness. So Jesus is seen by the crowd as
great prophet just like Elijah but soon they would know
more than that – Jesus is the Messiah who will bring
everlasting life to all who believe.
We come together today on
Sunday, the day of the Resurrection to celebrate Christ
conquering death. We may fear death, we may grieve the loss
of loved ones, but we should celebrate the death has been
conquered and we live in the glory of the Resurrection. |
