Along our Lenten way, looking ahead to the great drama of our redemption which we will shortly be celebrating at Holy Week and the Easter feast, we pause to sing a song of ascents which paradoxically begins “out of the depths.” How can that be? By waiting for the Lord. Why? Because he is God and we are not. Yes, but how? First, we wait actively, as St. Paul directs us in our capacity to set our minds on the Spirit and not on the flesh. Secondly, in our incapacity, we wait passively, like Lazarus. His contribution? It was twofold: he was dead and he stunk.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 1:1-9. The foundation for holy living and for trusting God in hard times is the living hope of our imperishable inheritance through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, “kept in heaven for you…the certainty of Heaven assures us of joy.”