Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Forgive me, the sinner. God forgives, and I forgive.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Brethren, Lazarus received a single injection of divine grace—“Lazarus, come forth!” (Jn 11:43b)—and he rose from the dead; four days dead, stinking, rotting, brought back to life by the power of God. We have received many, many injections of divine grace—in our baptisms, in the absolution of our sins by Confession, through Holy Matrimony, through Ordination; weekly even, in the Holy Mystery of our Lord’s Body and Blood. We have received so many injections of divine grace, we are temples of the Living God (2 Cor. 6:16), yet so many of us remain bound, embalmed, by the winding sheet of our persistent sins. We have received the vivifying grace of God; yet, we remain entombed in the fallen mind and habits of the old man. But the Apostle says,
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit… [but] have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Phil 2:3a, 5).
[And elsewhere,] “But you were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:22-24).
Lazarus received a single injection of divine grace, and he sprung to life. We have received so many injections of divine grace, and despite this, we cling to death. For spiritual death is truly like a fire, which tingles the senses, then warms, then smolders, … but then ignites, then burns, then wholly consumes. This is the destructive fire of the passions: a passing, sensible warmth, but a lasting, spiritual damnation.
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice, and envy, … but when the goodness and loving kindness of God appeared, he saved us… according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:3-5).
The “life” of the old man (if we can even call it this, a “life”) is ripe with pleasures—but pleasures leading only to death: adultery, fornication, lewdness, wrath, envy, drunkenness, revelry, gossip, boasting, pride (cf. Gal 5:19-21; also, Rom 1:29-31). But the life in Christ is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness… . Against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23).
Lazarus received a single injection of divine grace, and rose, and by his own volition came forth from the tomb, as we read:
“And he who had died came out, bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth” (John 11:44a).
Jesus calls, and Lazarus comes—not forced, but willingly! At the command of Jesus, the signs of his death are stripped away. “Loose him, and let him go!” are Christ’s words (Jn 11:44b). Lazarus is loosed; he is freed. He lives again. It would be striking, baffling, were Lazarus to say in response, “No! Keep me bound! Keep me wound! Return me to the tomb! Return me to Hades!” (pause) Brethren, let it not be our response, when our Lord calls us to new life in him. “No, I love the darkness! I long for the pleasures leading only to spiritual death!”
Lazarus received a single injection of divine grace, and he cooperated with the Author of Life. He rose, he walked, he was loosed from his graveclothes. He embraced his sisters. He supped with the Lord (cf. Jn 12:1-2). We have received so many injections of divine grace; we have heard the call; we can see Christ standing at the entrance to our tombs, beckoning us to newness of life in him, and we remain firmly and willfully entrenched, shrouded, buried in the destructive pleasures of this life (cf. Bridegroom Idiomelon, “As the Lord was going to his voluntary passion…”).
We hear from the Apostle in today’s Epistle, in Hebrews:
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. … Let brotherly love continue. … Remember those who are mistreated. … Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled. … Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. … Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith you follow. … Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 12:28, 13:1, 3-5, 7-; emphasis mine).
In summary: “God has given us the grace of new life; let us then walk in newness of life.” Our spiritual death and resurrection in Christ Jesus demands a spiritual death to sin and a resurrection to the life of the Kingdom—a death to bad habits, a resurrection to good habits; a death to selfish and vain ways of thinking and a resurrection to selflessness, humility, service, and love. Lazarus’ resurrection was a sign and a precursor to our Lord’s own resurrection, which is itself the guarantee of our resurrection. To live in Christ, we must die with Christ. To die with Christ is to forsake all earthly passion.
“As the Lord was going to His voluntary Passion, He said to the Apostles on the way, ‘Behold I go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up as it is written of Him.’ Come, therefore, let us also go with Him purified in mind. Let us be crucified with Him and die for Him to the pleasures of this life. Then we shall be with Him and hear Him say, ‘I go no more to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. I shall raise you up to the Jerusalem on high in the Kingdom of Heaven’ (Bridegroom Matins of Holy Monday, Idiomelon, Tone 1).
“Let us be crucified with him and die for him to the pleasures of this life… and [he] shall raise [us] up.”
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!