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Polidoro da Caravaggio. The Raising of Lazarus. Hamburger Kunsthalle
I HAVE ALWAYS appreciated the month of November. Despite the briskness of the wind and the gradual loss of daylight there is something in this month that invites me to pause, wrap myself in a layer or two of something warm, and remember.
Nature having run its cycle of the awakening and rebirth of spring, the intense brightness and productivity of summer, followed by the abundance of harvest, has brought us through the burst of autumn colour, to these moments of silhouetted trees with all of God’s creatures hard at work looking for a warm place to rest. All around us, nature, will soon surrender to forces within herself to enter into a sabbath of sorts while the cold winter winds blow.
As the month is launched on November 1 and November 2 our Church offers us All Saints Day and All Souls Day, in our annual liturgical rhythm, encouraging us, to stop, to pause, to remember those who have gone before reflecting on the examples they have left us, knowing that growth of any kind is often a halting (two steps forward, one step back) kind of process.
The Gospel for All Saints Day takes us into the household of Mary and Martha with Lazurus recently having died. Jesus having finally arrived, with Mary and Martha by his side, they walk along to the tomb of Lazurus.
Without question Jesus experiences the full weight of the grief of those around him. And even knowing that he had the power to change the situation in the end, as he takes it all in, he is touched so deeply by the despair of the human condition outside of God’s intervention that his only reaction can be to weep. But we know, in the end, the impossible will become possible and in a dramatic calling forth from his tomb, Lazurus will be restored to his family demonstrating to those who were present, and to us who read of it, that it is never too late to believe.
It is news to no one that life is full of losses, failures, disappointments, and circumstances that are difficult to understanding. When they happen, they may tempt us to despair, or to resentment or to both.
Yet, in our heart of hearts as followers of Jesus, we would wish to live lives of gratitude, but sometimes that is not easy to do, especially if we see a life of gratitude as always having to be cheery and accepting.
However, I’d suggest that that is not quite what gratitude is. As we, grounded in Scripture, make space in our lives intentionally for reflection to happen, we allow gratitude and grace to help us find our footing, And the marvel is, that it’s both never too late to begin, and while perfection remain elusive, with practice comes progress.
At EfM, we are committed to ensuring reflection permeates all that we do, knowing how beneficial this practice can be for us. If you are Interested in learning more about Education for Ministry or in arranging an information session we are just a phone call or an email away. Please contact Libi Clifford, the Diocese of Huron EfM Coordinator or myself Val Kenyon at EFM@huron.anglican.ca
Rev. Canon Dr. Val Kenyon is EFM Animator in Huron.