19 August 2005

There are more aspects of the resurrection than we may ever consider...but Paul sure does in 1 Corinthians 15.

Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body put on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where O death, it your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:51-57)

The mystery...is the mystery of Christ...the work done and the promise of new life in place without anything done on our side. Therefore, there is that sense of excitement ( I would call it pastoral excitement) when Paul writes, "Listen, I will tell you a mystery!" Everything within our world and within our mortal framework wants to work things out...in a way that will make sense...and in a way that we can somehow manage a bit of control. But, death has been swallowed up. It is powerless. The ways death seems to move us is not the way that our God moves us and lifts us and sets us down at the great feast of God's eternal love. The whole thing - all the ways of brokenness and division and sin - do not get the last word...and never will. Thanks be to God.

Connection: How sweet the sound of this mystery that is always attempting to help us put on a set of new lenses through which we will look at all things...even death. So, today, put on the lens of the promise of resurrection and don't let any other way of seeing life and death win your heart.

Lord of the Feast and Eternal Ruler of All, you are the beginning and the end of all things. With that in our minds and deep within our hearts we find encouragement and we are filled with hope even when we face discouraging days and those horrible times that appear to be quite hopeless. Thanks be to God. Amen.