Martha, Mary and Lazarus – a curious trio of siblings from Bethany we meet in John’s gospel. Well, in truth, we first bump into Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Lazarus, though… he appears nowhere but John 11 and 12. Why, when he’s clearly a close friend of Jesus? And considering the presence of the Judean leaders at his funeral (yeah, he dies in John’s story), it seems likely he was a person of some influence. Like so many things in the gospels, frustratingly, we don’t have solid answers to these mysteries.

Jesus’ raising of Lazarus is critical to the book. The raising of Lazarus from the dead is the last of Jesus’ seven ‘signs’ in the first half of the Fourth Gospel. The conversations between Jesus and Martha and Mary after Lazarus’ death shimmer with both raw human and Christological gems. The Feast of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus arrives on Monday, July 29th.

Morning Prayers

The glory in all of life's breath, all of life's actions,
Of life's beginnings and life's endings,
Be to the God who gives life to the living
And life to the dead,
To Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Now, and to the eternal ages.

The Resurrection Prayer:

Jesus, today, when your call is heard,
We will emerge from the tombs:
The graves of short-sighted greed and self-interest,
The tunnels of prejudice, of manipulating others,
Of 'justice' without mercy, of yearning for power.

We will emerge to better life,
To call others to better life.

May your summons,
Serene and striking,
Reach every ear and stir every soul,
So that all might come forth from the tombs.

Personal prayers for others

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Readings:

As many of these scripture readings as you like can be read throughout the week. Since you won’t be tested on them, feel free to skip any if you prefer to read just a few or even one passage slowly and contemplatively.

Old Testament: Genesis 7:1-16
Psalms: Psalm 8 and 9
Gospel: Mark 2:18-22; Mark 2:23-28
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

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Prayer of Friendship:

Our Lord, who calls us friends,
You have drawn near as a friend for every turning,
For every moment and every juncture.
Yet we who are blind and unaware
Notice only distance and silence and self.

Who are you in the hours of joy,
If not the one who sings the songs in our minds?
Who are you in hours of pain, 
If not the one who joins us in the shit?
Who are you in the hours of relief,
If not the one who takes the weight from our bones?
Who are you in the hour of death,
If not the one who walks us through its door?

And who will you be in the hours of today?
May we be attuned to your approach,
To discover anew the sacred bonds of friendship,
Resilient and divine.

Personal requests for today

Our Father:

Our Father in the unseen world,
May your name be hallowed.
Let your kingdom come and your will be done 
Here, in the world we see, as it is in heaven.
Grant us the food we need for today
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us,
And do not lead us into the test,
But rescue us from evil.
For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours, 
To the ages of ages.

Evening Prayers

The glory in all of life's breath, all of life's actions,
Of life's beginnings and life's endings,
Be to the God who gives life to the living
And life to the dead,
To Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Now, and to the eternal ages.

Prayer of Seeking:

God of ages, whatever tomorrow may bring,
Whatever its occasions, whatever its encounters,
We would seek not power, but love –
Love for others and love for you.
We would seek not glory, but a humble stance,
That others might see you revealed as you are.
We would seek not wealth, but a generous hand,
To give to others as you would give.
We would seek not control, but an advocate's voice,
To speak for others whose words go unheeded.
We would seek not vengeance, but mercy –
Mercy for those whose who stand against us.
We would seek not death, but life –
Life for all whose journeys entwine with ours.

Our Father:

Our Father in the unseen world,
May your name be hallowed.
Let your kingdom come and your will be done 
Here, in the world we see, as it is in heaven.
Grant us the food we need for today
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us,
And do not lead us into the test,
But rescue us from evil.
For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours, 
To the ages of ages.

Benediction:

May God renew your mind, spirit and body; 
May the life of the resurrection 
Flow in you and through you,
And overflow to those around you.

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