When was the last time you heard or read a sermon on the subject of death? It is not the subject of dinner party conversation normally, unless it is in the context of a mass killing, like the recent one in the United States, one of many gun killings over the past twelve months. As a priest one is privileged to be part of conversations on death, the rituals associated with celebrating one’s life and the committal of our earthly remains to God. On such occasions I remind those gathered to share and celebrate in the life of the deceased that from love we come and to love we return.
In today’s Gospel Mark presents the human and divine aspects of Jesus’ natures. He is fully incarnate, mortal and immortal. He is also living in the shadow of death. Jesus is not immune from physical death. He teaches his disciples that he will certainly die and his death will include suffering and in the same breath he will rise again.
We Christians are at times at pain not to talk about the crucifixion but instead race to the resurrection of Jesus. Understandably it provides comfort. The season of Lent bids us to sit at the foot of the cross and in the shadow of the one who gives all for the other, that is both you and I. Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are called to live our lives, to journey, to share in the joys and pains of life in the full knowledge that from God we come and to God we return. This is the promise of the resurrection and to live in this knowledge is not only comforting but also human.
Shalom
Ray