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The last
enemy that shall be destroyed is death. On Easter, we stare death in the face and see it for what it isn't: not the end. We assert — oh, more than that, we sing and we shout — the most impossible thing: that the apparent utter finality of the tomb is the absolute portal of life. In the face of all evidence to the contrary, we declare that the Lord of Life has risen, the first fruits of them that slept. We accept that 'our flesh in hope shall rest; and for a season, slumber', but only 'till trump from east to west, shall wake the dead in number'. Our faith rests on this day, that garden, that tomb. This day is what makes sense of our lives and confirms that every life has meaning. Nothing is ever lost — whether fragments of a miraculous meal or the fall of a dying sparrow — and all will, someday, come home.
We shall try to resist normalcy for a while, if we can, hard as that is. We'll cling to the vita nuova that comes with this day and determine, once again, to dare to be Christian — the Lord being our helper. A hazelnut may help with that. We'll keep one in our pocket and take it out, now and then, to play with during these Great Fifty Days.
'It lasteth and ever shalle'. So rejoice, dear friends, for the Lord of Life is risen and 'merrily merrily shall we live now'. See you next week, as always. Meanwhile, practice resurrection! |
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