The Gospel According to Eeyore
John 11:1-45

If you’ve ever read A. A. Milne, you know who Eeyore is.
Milne is the author of the Winnie the Pooh stories, in which Eeyore is a central character.  He made up the stories about his real-life son (Christopher Robin) and his toys.  Eeyore is a donkey who never has a positive word to say about anything.  No matter what the joy, Eeyore can find something to grumble about.  Whatever the silver lining, Eeyore can create a cloud big enough to hide it.  Eeyore is so negative that he can deflate a room just by entering it.  He’s the original bad-time Charlie.
Today’s Scripture tells a familiar story.  Jesus learns that his friend, Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, is sick.  He makes his way to their home village of Bethany at the possibility of personal risk to himself, since the authorities have threatened to stone him.  Arriving at the home of his friends, he asks to be taken to the tomb, where with a command, “Lazarus, come out!” he restores Lazarus to life.

Read more