I love the poem, but your thoughts on the strangeness of Lazarus' bodily resurrection are even better! See, it's already hard to think about how we can remain ourselves through time (even as we change significantly), but it seems to me that this story is about the way Jesus calls Lazarus to a renewed self; a new life in the old body - well, in a way, isn't that what Jesus does throughout his life?
Thank you for this perspective, Tiago -- I appreciate your reading and commenting. Lazarus's resurrection strikes me as a pretty extreme embodiment of the call to a renewed self, but ... Jesus does what Jesus does! ❤️🩹
Really like this. The refrain (Spare a thought for...) refreshes the bible story, making it casual, immediate. I wonder what Lazarus did for the rest of his life.
I love this poem so much, Elizabeth! How profound to consider Lazarus in this way. And I am grateful for all of your musings at the end of— going backward or forward to your old body or a fresh incarnation. And the implications of that. And, yes, how did this all end up in John. Thank you!
Well there must be some sort of awakening taking place - (an echo maybe from a young childhood swimming deep into mystery and life and death. And the Orthodox Church. Not only the Easter lesson - but real deaths and what it meant to be dead and stories of ghosts and spirits that roamed our family history..but perseverance too. Keep walking. It’s what the new god did after all..
And our living room.. )
Such a great essay. Because this ancient legend refra
I'd love to know the end of that last sentence that (probably) Substack truncated accidentally, Patris -- grateful to you for the rest of the response, and for reading and restacking this peculiar post. Thank you!
Hi - I must have backspaced without realizing it before posting.
I believe what I wrote was « .. this ancient legend reframed gives each of us the chance to construct a path forward after the end of episodes in our lives that seem the finality of everything at the time..
I loved it, thank you. It's such a ...I don;t know it's a way to look at things that one goes "yes; why I didn't think of it". and it's written so beautifully
We still have the old landmark right in the busy center of Jerusalem, as the reminder-the arch that says "Taali Takumi" (loosely "get up and go") and where many dates and meetings take places- "so, 5 pm? I'll be near Taali Takumi".
I always thought it's about Lazarus -but now doublechecked, and actully it's a different gospel, by Mark(?) about 12 y o. girl.
It's been a long time since I've read Gospels. I've read them first, because they were first to appear published (I mean so the public can actually buy them) in late Soviet Union, just a couple years before it'd cease to exist.
Yes, the story about the little girl is in Mark's Gospel! (And surprise surprise, I've written a poem about that story, too -- hasn't appeared here yet.) I had no idea about the archway in Jerusalem, or about the (late, late) public access to the Gospels in the former Soviet Union. Thank you for bringing those stories here, Chen, and thank you for reading .
Ah! I love that you took a meander into this theological / Biblical (I’m not really sure what the right word would be!) line of inquiry! I, too, feel a certain sort of something bubble up around Easter. Whether it’s hope or abhorrence, I’m not sure! 😂
Opinionated laypersons are allowed, invited even, to preach at my church from time to time, so there’s a community for whom I’ve done a fair amount of writing on faith. Just extra aware, especially when addressing the larger public (like here on Substack) that Opinionated is not always the same thing as Qualified. Or Right!
Well, my conviction is that God is big (and good) enough to allow for a lot, a lot of different hues and shades of Rightness in our ideas about God … though there are alas some fellow believers who would vigorously dispute that.
Where I’m less secure in my Rightness is in matters of scholarship, especially regarding how certain ancient texts have been edited and translated over the years. My sense of how “historical” something is or what the writers’ intentions’ were is based more on instinct and pitch and things I half-remember reading or hearing in wiser peoples’ sermons, than on my own in-depth study — and in that sense, something that feels Right to me isn’t necessarily accurate.
When Lazarus was resurrected that was not his choice. There was no debate-and there
He was. Sisters were overwhelmed with joy, Jesus’s miracle was evident. My thoughts
for Lazarus: immediate-“send me back!”. Next: I’m here to stay.
Wonderful!
I love the poem, but your thoughts on the strangeness of Lazarus' bodily resurrection are even better! See, it's already hard to think about how we can remain ourselves through time (even as we change significantly), but it seems to me that this story is about the way Jesus calls Lazarus to a renewed self; a new life in the old body - well, in a way, isn't that what Jesus does throughout his life?
Thank you for this perspective, Tiago -- I appreciate your reading and commenting. Lazarus's resurrection strikes me as a pretty extreme embodiment of the call to a renewed self, but ... Jesus does what Jesus does! ❤️🩹
But not just good--heartbreaking, so thoughtful.
Thank you so much, Margaret Ann. 💛🌿
Wow. So good, Elizabeth.
Beautiful poem!
Thanks, Peter -- glad you liked it.
You’re welcome, Elizabeth,
Really like this. The refrain (Spare a thought for...) refreshes the bible story, making it casual, immediate. I wonder what Lazarus did for the rest of his life.
Thank you for listening to the poem so closely, Thomas. So glad you enjoyed it.
I love this. The silence of Lazarus has captivated me for the last few weeks, which also inspired some poetry, but yours is much better. I just started a 3-part series on John 11 through the lens of religious trauma, if you’re interested: https://open.substack.com/pub/onceaweek/p/re-reading-the-raising-of-lazarus?r=16589c&utm_medium=ios.
Thanks so much for reading, Aaron, and I'm glad the poem spoke to you. I look forward to learning from your posts.
I love this poem so much, Elizabeth! How profound to consider Lazarus in this way. And I am grateful for all of your musings at the end of— going backward or forward to your old body or a fresh incarnation. And the implications of that. And, yes, how did this all end up in John. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Jeni -- so glad it spoke to you and so glad you're here to read, wherever in the world you may be today.💛🌿
All of it, brilliant! And now I will have to wathch Buffy... sigh.
What an adventure that will be for you, Simon! 🤔
Thanks so much for reading, and I'm glad you found value in the post.
"the opposite of dark" indeed. Love all of this! Thanks Elizabeth!
So glad it speaks to you, Mary -- thank you for reading!
Well there must be some sort of awakening taking place - (an echo maybe from a young childhood swimming deep into mystery and life and death. And the Orthodox Church. Not only the Easter lesson - but real deaths and what it meant to be dead and stories of ghosts and spirits that roamed our family history..but perseverance too. Keep walking. It’s what the new god did after all..
And our living room.. )
Such a great essay. Because this ancient legend refra
I'd love to know the end of that last sentence that (probably) Substack truncated accidentally, Patris -- grateful to you for the rest of the response, and for reading and restacking this peculiar post. Thank you!
Hi - I must have backspaced without realizing it before posting.
I believe what I wrote was « .. this ancient legend reframed gives each of us the chance to construct a path forward after the end of episodes in our lives that seem the finality of everything at the time..
Emerging from a tomb of defeat, remakes us. »
Thanks so much for the recap, Patris -- and, yes! 💛🌿
I loved it, thank you. It's such a ...I don;t know it's a way to look at things that one goes "yes; why I didn't think of it". and it's written so beautifully
We still have the old landmark right in the busy center of Jerusalem, as the reminder-the arch that says "Taali Takumi" (loosely "get up and go") and where many dates and meetings take places- "so, 5 pm? I'll be near Taali Takumi".
I always thought it's about Lazarus -but now doublechecked, and actully it's a different gospel, by Mark(?) about 12 y o. girl.
It's been a long time since I've read Gospels. I've read them first, because they were first to appear published (I mean so the public can actually buy them) in late Soviet Union, just a couple years before it'd cease to exist.
Yes, the story about the little girl is in Mark's Gospel! (And surprise surprise, I've written a poem about that story, too -- hasn't appeared here yet.) I had no idea about the archway in Jerusalem, or about the (late, late) public access to the Gospels in the former Soviet Union. Thank you for bringing those stories here, Chen, and thank you for reading .
It's not an archway, per se. Just an arc. With a bench. If it makes sense))
One can google how it looks like I suppose.
Thank you for writing, Elizabeth
Ah! I love that you took a meander into this theological / Biblical (I’m not really sure what the right word would be!) line of inquiry! I, too, feel a certain sort of something bubble up around Easter. Whether it’s hope or abhorrence, I’m not sure! 😂
That's one of my favorite meanders, only I'm manifestly unqualified to report my opinions about that world! (Which doesn't nearly always stop me ....)
I think it's the nature of Easter to be discomforting and hopeful, both. Lots of mysteries are.
Maybe one of these days one or both of us will lean in even more to writing about faith and spirituality….
Opinionated laypersons are allowed, invited even, to preach at my church from time to time, so there’s a community for whom I’ve done a fair amount of writing on faith. Just extra aware, especially when addressing the larger public (like here on Substack) that Opinionated is not always the same thing as Qualified. Or Right!
Is there such a thing as “right” though when discussing matters of faith?? lol asking for a friend! 🪐
Well, my conviction is that God is big (and good) enough to allow for a lot, a lot of different hues and shades of Rightness in our ideas about God … though there are alas some fellow believers who would vigorously dispute that.
Where I’m less secure in my Rightness is in matters of scholarship, especially regarding how certain ancient texts have been edited and translated over the years. My sense of how “historical” something is or what the writers’ intentions’ were is based more on instinct and pitch and things I half-remember reading or hearing in wiser peoples’ sermons, than on my own in-depth study — and in that sense, something that feels Right to me isn’t necessarily accurate.
Perfect & timely! Thank you!
So glad you found it so, Robin. Thank you for reading!