Wellspring of the Gospel

 

Year C: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Reading: based on St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians Ch. 15: 45-49

 

Today we continue St Paul’s exploration of what resurrection of the dead means.

He brings together Adam and Christ and uses their similarity and crucial differences to help to make an important point.

 

We, like Adam, are of the earth. All the atoms and molecules that make up our bodies were formed from the earth and will, one day, return to it. Like Adam, we are not just of the earth but have been given the breath of God and are living souls. We are able to think - to communicate - and, above all, to be aware of our Creator and enter into a living relationship with Him.

 

Christ, on the other hand, is no longer of the earth. Yes, he was born and, while he walked the earth, his body was bound to it. However, his death freed him from those bonds and he became, as St Paul puts it, a life-giving spirit. We do not know how his earthly body was transformed - only that something in the resurrection transformed something of clay into something new and glorious and destined for heaven.

 

On earth, we remain of the earth - but the promise is that, having modelled our lives on that of Jesus here, we will be refashioned for heaven.

 

We do not, of course, know how that will happen. It is beyond human understanding - because we are still bound by earthly thinking. All we can do is go back to words we read a few weeks ago and trust that what we see now is like a dim reflection - only partial - but one day we shall see face-to-face and in full.

 

It can feel daunting  - and some draw back - afraid of believing in such a destiny. Our faith is that, glorious though it is and unworthy though we are, our destiny is to be modelled on the heavenly Christ.

 
What does it mean for me?

Waterlily

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