Love and Resurrection

            About three years ago, I was one of the clergy who presided at the wedding of my nephew who married his partner of a number of years in Washington, DC because it was legally possible to do that.  I was honored to be a part of that wonderful ceremony that brought these two people into a long term relationship that they both wanted very much. 

            This coming April, I will preside at the wedding of his brother, my other nephew in New Bern, NC to his dear betrothed love.  Again, I am honored to be a part of this joining together of two people who want to be in a life-long loving relationship with each other.

            Relationships are essential to our lives.  This was made apparent to us by Jesus who made it a point to touch as many lives as possible during his time with us.  I am particularly taken by the story of his friend Lazarus, who was the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany.  When Jesus found out that Lazarus was sick, he waited a few days and then went to Bethany to do what he could for his friend.  Lazarus had died and he asked where they had buried him.  Jesus went to the tomb, stood there and wept.  He honored his friend with his tears, and then he did something that amazed everyone around.  He brought Lazarus out of the tomb and restored him to his sisters.  We only have the word of the Gospel of John for this, but Jesus emphasized this wonderful miracle by dining with Lazarus later on.  This was when Mary anointed Jesus feet with costly perfume in thanksgiving for what he had done for them, and as a prefiguring of Jesus own death that was surely coming at the hands of a hostile church.  That Judas reproved Mary for this is seen by the author of the Gospel as additional proof of his malicious mindset that resulted in the betrayal of Jesus to those who wanted to kill him.

            I love this story because it tells us something about the length of our relationships with each other.  They last not only during this life, but we can expect them to continue in eternity.  That, I think, is what Jesus is trying to demonstrate by his continued relationship with Lazarus after his raising from the dead.  So, like Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb, we need to weep when we encounter death, certainly we have all done that; but we also need to remember that these relationships are not over at that moment, but that we will certainly see each other again when we come to our eternal life. 

                Sometimes, death comes as a relief from the problems that we create for one another, but remember that our sins are forgiven and our souls purified by our God when we come into His presence, and it is this purified soul that we will meet when we all come together before God’s throne.  That is why I know that God wants only goodness and peace for us all, even if we won’t necessarily see it in this life.  May we all honor each other in this life with the love that lies deeply in our hearts, so that when we meet later, that love will continue to grow and become a firm part of our being.  That is certainly what I want for my nephews in their marriages, and for all of us in this life.