All Souls’ Requiem – Commemoration of the Departed, Nov 9th 2025, SJE
WISDOM OF SOLOMON 3:1-9; PSALM 116:1-8; 1 PETER 1:3-9; JOHN 11:21-27
I know that he will rise again
in the resurrection on the last day
The story of the raising of Lazarus seems to me quite apropos for our purposes today. The big miracle that takes place in the story of the raising of Lazarus is that he is brought to life out of the grave—that is, that Lazarus was once dead, but is no longer.
But as amazing a story as that is—that in Jesus, the dead might live—it is only one part of the bigger picture of life and redemption. The Lazarus that comes out of the tomb, and is restored to the dining room table with his family and friends, is still destined to die, because this death and coming to life is not the only death and coming to life that we recognise in the Christian faith. We also have the death and coming to life that Martha speaks to, when she replies to Jesus: “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’”
And so we have two visions of the resurrection life offered in Jesus: we have the resurrection life that breaks into this life, even when the destructive power of death is right on the doorstep; and we have the resurrection life that breaks the power of death completely, when we are raised on the last day.
These two visions of the resurrection life seem particularly apropos today because we are taking time to remember not just the death of loved ones, the death that will be overcome on the last day, but we remember the lives of our loved ones today too. The small things that reveal the goodness of God, the life of God with us in the midst of life. We remember their passions, we remember their little jokes, their silliness, their profundity; we remember their small acts of sharing themselves with us, we remember the love they had for us, even as we remember the challenges and complexities that come with who they were.
But to say this—that we remember the good of our loved ones, in the context of even those things that were perhaps not so good about our loved ones—is just one more way of speaking to the way that the life of God breaks through. Because this is what God, in Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit offers us: life in the midst of life. We are like Lazarus, called out of the tomb, not quite yet to be saved entirely from death, but like Lazarus, brought out from the tomb that we might live now—and sit across from the table, with a smirk or a joke, or a small act of love.
We remember this sort of resurrection life in the midst of life today, though, because we are also reminded that we have lost, for the time being, our loved ones by the seemingly indefatigable power of death—a death that even Lazarus was to experience again. But we aren’t here simply to say goodbye, but rather to celebrate what Martha had to say: that those who die in Christ will not remain so. The promise that Martha knew, and reminds us of today, is that we will rise again on the last day—and be restored to the fullness of life in Christ. And that we can hold on to that now, as a small breath of life breathed into our day, today: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
And that this is not only a word of eternal life after death, but a word of life for us in the midst of life, too.
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.
As our parish musician, he provides both support and leadership so that a variety of parish programs can find musical expression and attract participation. When our handbell choir is in season, he is one of our ringers. At parish dinners, he provides popular piano music for the guests to dine by. For both worship services and concerts, he will rehearse and accompany vocal and instrumental soloists from our congregation on piano, organ, or even accordion.
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.