Dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters in Christ,
This is the Holy Gospel for Evensong today :
St. John 5:16-29
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
When I read this story saying Evensong this evening , I was reminded of a journey I made through
Finland many years ago. I visited the town of Tampere and the Lutheran Church Cathedral in this city.
The blog starts off with a picture of the mural above the altar, which depicts the opening of the graves and the rising of the dead after they hear the voice of Christ. You will find that this " happening" on the mural in the Cathedral is reflected in the Gospel of today.
An argument between Jesus and the Jews about working on the Sabbath leads to a story about the day of our judgement, which is indeed a serious matter. The result of the judgement can be favourable indeed, but also a judgement , which contains a judgment of condemnation. Its a choice between good or being evil in the course of our lives. We all know the television show " this is your life " , where somone famous person is appearing on camera and personalities from his life time appear suddenly to meet him and good and or bad might be revealed. It brings the question forward " what have you done with your life?", a question Jesus no doubt will ask us as well.
A local funeral director here in Bendigo, William Farmer Ltd used to use an advertising slogan :
"a good life, deserves a good send off". The question, which comes immediately to my mind is " what is a good life"? Is it a life being a committed Catholice Christian , a devoted follower of Jesus Christ in word and deed or a life looking after your family and providing them with all their material needs?
Interesting question is it not ?
In his book " Life after Life" Dr.Raymond Moody talks about people's after life experiences , those patients who die , but are brought back to life. They all remember seeing this person in white at the end of a long tunnel and a most friendly voice:" What have you done with your life"?
May this story remind us , that we still have a little time to get things right. Lets use our time wisely.
Amen.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia
