Preparing to Die

 I am assuming that we have all heard of the 5 stages of dying model by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It also can apply to grief and to loss. It also usually not linear in that we begin with one and then move on to the next. We can also be experiencing more than one stage at a time. In our pandemic, we have seen these played out by our national and community leaders, especially the denying the seriousness of the situation. We have seen a lot of anger being shown by crowds, protests, and viral moments. There has been an uptick in mental illness as we have been isolating and being cut off from family and friends and touch which is very important. It has been a hard two years no matter who we are or where we live.

The gut wrenching part of this is that we have lost almost one million family members, friends, and neighbors due to this illness and have not been able to gather together, to grieve, to say good-bye. Even the relatives of those who have died of other causes have had hard times being able to do what a family or a church would normally do. It makes it that much harder to go through these stages and often we can get stuck in our denial, or anger, or bargaining, or depression. 

This story in the gospel of John pulls things together in some unique ways. We are with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha remembering that just a short time ago, Lazarus died and was brought back from the dead that foreshadows that Jesus is going to die in the near future but will also be brought back from the dead. We have Mary washing and anointing Jesus' feet by which an example is set so that Jesus turns around and washes the disciples' feet during the last supper. We remember in the story of Lazarus that Jesus wept when confronted by Mary, the tears shed by Mary as she washes Jesus feet, and the tears shed by the women and the disciples when Jesus is killed. And the nard, the expensive perfume, that fills the house to erase the smell of death from Lazarus and prepares Jesus for his death. 

There is no way that we can deal with what our world went through over the last two years with this pandemic in one sermon, in one worship service, or community gathering. There are still neighbors, family members, and friends who are still in denial that this was a big deal. Many are angry about the restrictions that were put into place and having to wear masks or that it wasn't restrictive enough and too many people were exposed, got sick, and died. America tried to bargain, to minimize the impacts, the loss, by coming up with excuses and blaming this politician, that government agency, or trusting our church and faith will get us through this. And I think we all have been struggling mightily against the depression and grief of a world that is forever changed, those we have lost, and dealing with the number of those who died is beyond our understanding. 

In our story today, there is a nugget or two that we can use to help get us through this. The first is when we have a chance to gather with those we love, we must seize the time and be present with each other. I hope, I truly hope, that the waves are over with, at least for a while, and we can sit down with each other in houses, in yards, and at restaurants and public gatherings be hug and sit shoulder to shoulder and eat and drink without worrying. We can gather and laugh and move and cry when we need to. The second nugget to remember is that the story has no end. We can hear echoes of other stories, the gospel stories, family stories, and our nations stories. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time for every season and the seasons come and go and come again. 

It is so good that we can be here together in worship with each other. We can look forward to a time when we can take off our masks and sing an old song and maybe a new one. Let us grieve the pain, the loss, and the death that has overtaken our world, even as we trust that these will not last and there are better days ahead. For we are a resurrection people, we are a kindom building people, we are the followers of Christ who came to bring us light and life. Amen.