...resurrection joy...

Who does not seek Resurrection? Who does not seek a full and fuller life? Did Jesus not promise, “I have come that you may have life, life in abundance” John 10:10? How am I Resurrection and Life for others? To be Resurrection for another I need to be Resurrection for myself. That means I cannot dwell in despair and death and anger and oppression and submission and resentment and pain forever. I need to wake up, get up, rise up, put on life even when days are dark and my soul is down and shadows surround me everywhere. I have to listen to the voice that says: “Be resurrection.” “Be born again. And again. And again. Rise up and be counted. Rise up and imbibe the good news deeply — that death does not conquer, that life, not death, has the last word.”

Our resurrection is our commitment to hope and being reborn. It is our commitment to creativity, to the Spirit who “makes all things new” Revelation 21:5. Resurrection is the Spirit’s work. It is the life of the Spirit.

And what about Life? How am I Life? How living and alive am I? How much in love with life am I? Can anyone or any event separate me from my love of life? Paul the apostle asks — and then answers, “Who shall separate us from the love of God? Neither death nor life, height nor depth, neither present nor future” Romans 8:35, 38. Is my curiosity alive? My gratitude? My mind? My imagination? My laughter and sense of humor? My creativity? My powers of generosity and compassion? My powers for continually generating and regenerating life?

How are we doing? Are we growing in God-like-ness? In God action?

In works of justice and compassion and healing and celebrating?

To celebrate life is to celebrate God, to thank God for life, to worship.

How are we doing in expressing the “sheer joy” of God as well as the justice of God?

Yes, I am, yes, we are, the Resurrection and the Life. We bring aliveness and rebirth and plenty of hope into the world, however distressing the news becomes. That is what it means to believe in Easter Sunday and the Resurrection. We become Resurrection and the Life. Christ rises anew.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

From the Bible:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” Colossians 3:1.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” Romans 15:13.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”

Hebrews 11:1.

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:20-21.

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off” Proverbs 23:18.