- The Resurrection of the body;
- What do we mean by "death;"
- What is the mystery of the Church.
First, lets consider our faith in the Resurrection of our human flesh. God does not abandon our soul at the time of death. He will assist us to see Him and enjoy His Presence after death. In the Old Testament Job believes:
"even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God..." (Job 19:26 and BCP 469).We use this phrase in the Prayer Book Burial Office "though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God."
Man is composed of both "body and spirit." By "spirit" is meant our immortal soul. The human soul is created directly by God. It is not a product of procreation, as our body is. These two aspects of "body and spirit" that make up man's "nature." On the bodily side, we are of the same nature as the ground on which we walk and the air we breath, but on the spirit side, we share in the nature of the angels. This is what it means being created in the "image and after the likeness" of God. (Gen 1:26)
This is all beautifully stated in the Burial liturgy:
Thou only art immortal, the Creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return. For so Thou didst ordain when Thou createdst me, saying, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” All we go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (BCP 482)Our body will lie in "dust" but our immortal soul will sing out of the victory of Christ: "Alleluia."
What is death?
Our second part is we must understand what the Bible means by "death?" Death occurs when our body and soul are separated. The soul gives life to our body. When separation of body and soul occurs this is death. Our body rests from worldly labor and turmoil awaiting the General Resurrection. Our soul rests "sleeping in Christ." (1 Cor 15:18, Col 3:3), but our soul lives on, which means man lives on after death.
As we pray in the Proper Preface of the Burial liturgy: "life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared a place for us a dwelling place in the Heavens."
So death is not annihilation as many people (even some Christians) may assume. In fact no one can choose annihilation, if in fact that is what they want as their "eternal future." No matter what kind of life you now live, you shall live forever. Man continues to live forever, even after death. The question is where shall one spend eternity? In Heaven or in Hell?
So why do we pray for the repose of the soul? We pray for them because, as we now understand, they are not annihilated or extinguished of life. They are alive! Just as you prayed for someone when they were still part of this world, so you still have reason to pray for them. Life has changed for them, but it has not ended, and it never will. So for those who have died they benefit from your prayers now and you benefit from their prayers!
So what is the Church?
Third, let us look at an important aspect of the Church's spiritual life in Christ. The Church is the communion of saints. We believe that the Church is a sacramental reality which may also be called the communion of saints.
The Church as a mystical reality transcends time and space. This means we are united to all who live in Christ whether they are alive in this world (you and me) or they are asleep in Christ or have been fully received into Heaven as a Saint glorified. The Church of Jesus Christ, the communion of saints is united in one head who is Jesus Christ and in sharing one Holy Spirit who is the soul of the Mystical Body. The Church is a communion of saints that love and pray for one another and for the needs and the redemption of the world. Why let death stand in the way???
No comments:
Post a Comment