Leptospirosis Vaccine Induced

April 10, 2011

5th Sunday of Lent. A. Year

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 130

Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45

Breath God gives life to the body, and spirit of God dwells in the body. The body is called to life and vivacity. The body is affirmed. We dare to reject the body's rejection and accept God's acceptance.

so dear The passage of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 dramatically illustrates the theme of the texts of this week: God's desire not only to enjoy life, but vitality. It is ironic that this is a passage of Lent, when Lent is traditionally understood as a disciplined time suppression of enjoyment and vitality. We will go into a deep reflection on the ways of God, seen most clearly in the great sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. So we are expected to disciplined and deny the body to help the spiritual growth and development.

How typically understand Lent? Why do you think that Lent is usually associated with body practices such as diet, fasting and abstinence? How could you get closer to God during the remaining days of Lent to celebrate the body instead of denying it?

Ezekiel 11:1-45 and John offer a different view. In fact, the sign of God's presence and power is just around the body to life. Homophobic culture insists that LGBT people crucify their vitality (living celibate) to be considered righteous in the church. However, we prophesy of the resurrection for all those people. Like Ezekiel calls on Israel to leave the grave of exile in cultural life and vitality, and LGBT people are invited by God to get out of denial and self-loathing, guilt and failed attempts at forced celibacy. We are called to life (authenticity) and vitality (passion).


In the Gospel of John, living the life comes when we left the tomb (the cabinet) and vitality comes when we get rid of our mortise (unleash the body). It is interesting that at the end of Ezekiel 37:7-9 emaciated bodies end with sinew, flesh, skin and ruach (spirit) but without clothes. Similarly, Lazarus just the same way to ask Jesus to be removed the shroud (John 11:44). The nudity is celebrated here as a call from God to a new life. Just like when we are born, our bodies are exposed without shame.

How has the vision of the body and sexuality of our Christian traditions in search of LGBT lives rich, full and satisfying within the Christian community?

In this message of life and vitality, there is a sense of urgency. Juan shows unequivocally the error of Jesus believed that Lazarus would not die, so he waited before going to her. However, Lazarus died, Mary and Martha were understandably disappointed that the special friend Lazarus had not come when I had called.

Shall we also disappointed when we expect liabilities to the attitudes of condemnation, marginalization and scapegoating leading to death, which sometimes accumulate on LGBT people? Who suffers when we look at an opportune moment to talk? Or when we wait for a better time to assert our rights to life and vitality? Invoke Psalm 130 to justify our hopes. However, the wait (qwh in Hebrew) of the Psalmist school is an active waiting "like a relay runner gets up before you pass the baton. We should not wait for God to come, we must start the race before God handover.


Some use Romans 8:6-11 to defend the need to remove the body for spiritual growth. They show how he assumes the dualism of the Stoics opponents flesh against the Spirit. However, despite his insistent emphasis on the death of the body, in the final analysis until Paul has to compromise: " which rose from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (verse 11). In fact, it is for the vitality for what God calls us from death to life. It is our reasonable service to God, accept this gift of vitality.


What questions or discoveries haunt your mind after reading this reflection on God and the body? What is your prayer?


inclusive Prayer

God of our years of fatigue, the God of our silent tears.
We tried to live as we have been taught,
denying our bodies, denying our vitality.
However, we learned that this is not your way.
We have shuddered at the gift of vitality.
What we liked and we have rejected
ruefully insincere and vague guilt.
However, you come in search of us incessantly with your embrace,
with your acceptance, your love.
Forgive to reject your acceptance.
Forgive reject our bodies.
now accept your gift, as we are.
In the name of Jesus Christ fully embodied. Amen.