15 August 2005

We pick up with material from 1 Corinthians that continues the discussion on resurrection.

And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour? I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you - a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. (1 Cor. 15:30-34)

And we "put ourselves in danger every hour" because the life within the Reign of God...the life within the promise of resurrection pulls us into a living reality that is often quite contrary to the way things are run all around us by the powers of the world. Why do that? Why stand up and live with such an agenda of hope? Why risk loving the outsider in an insider world? Why help the neighbor and the stranger as though they are our beloved? The resurrection is life not simply an idea about what may happen. It is what moved Paul through his life...it was his life. At the present moment we have the opportunity to participate in what will be. At the present moment we are invited to live as though death is defeated and God's Reign is the way for us even when that way is not well received by the world. We still press on. We live within a standard of love and hopefulness that gives us a backbone for justice and peace and mercy and forgiveness and never ending care for one another.

Connection: Living contrary to the way life moves along in our world is not easy. Why do it? Well the promise is that we will have an abundant life and be a part of the well being of all things. It still does and it always will take courage and risk to step within the bounds of resurrection life. Today is once again an opportunity.

When we lose sight of your promise of new life, O God, we lose sight of what can be a part of this day. Inspire us so that we may find in the story of the resurrection the power to live within the face of death but not be owned by it. Amen.