More from James Alison on Stretching the Shape of Forgiveness in "The Resurrection and Original Sin." Following up on the previous few days: ...the forgiveness of sins reaches further than the forgiveness of actions or intentions: it reaches into who we are as constituted in and by death. What is particularly vital is that if there had been no resurrection-as-forgiveness, there could have been no understanding of death itself as a reality of sin and therefore no anthropological discovery of the nonnecessity of death. If sin does not have the upper hand - if it is not the controlling power in life, death (the stinging power of sin) is left like a beggar on the side of road waiting for a ride. I could pull this out a bit more by saying we can be 'Good Samaritans' and pick up death. But we pick up death to make it whole and healed. Therefore, death is no longer death - it is life - resurrected life. We are invited to pick up death and have it be transformed right in front of our eyes. Forgiveness is the way of that transformation. Jesus on the cross - at the end and at the point where death usually 'wins the day' says: "Father, forgive them." What is death to do there!?! Life is the last word. Not just life, but new life. Life without baggage - empty tomb life - this is the day that the Lord has made life. Connection: I simply know that this kind of life comes only as I have others around me who know of its power so that I do not roll over and die - as one defeated. I need folks around me to remind me to keep rolling over until life comes around again - after death and sin have had their best shot. Keep rolling - like a stone on the tomb - life is about to come around again. O God of life, keep the light of your life bringing us into the fullness of another day. Amen. |
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