Here’s
a reflection on John 11: 1-45, where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. It was written by Jan L. Richardson, and
posted on The Painted Prayerbook.
Lazarus
Blessing
(inspired by John 11: 1-45)
The
secret
of
this blessing
is
that it is written
on
the back
of
what binds you.
To
read
this
blessing,
you
must take hold
of
the end
of
what
confines
you,
must
begin to tug
at
the edge
of
what wraps
you
round.
It
may take long
and
long
for
its length
to
fall away,
for
the words
of
this blessing
to
unwind
in
folds
about
your feet.
By
then
you
will no longer
need
them.
By
then this blessing
will
have pressed itself
into
your waking flesh,
will
have passed
into
your bones,
will
have traveled
every
vein
until
it comes to rest
inside
the chambers
of
your heart
that
beats to
the
rhythm
of
benediction
and
the cadence
of
release.
