16 September 2016
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
Rather than ridicule, I sympathize with the Corinthians who thought there was no Resurrection of the Body. I had a similar experience where I was reflecting on the Resurrection at a funeral for a family member of a friend. I was listening to the readings, the homily, received communion, and then the eulogy at the funeral mass. A doubt slowly emerged in my heart making me question the whole ritual as possibly empty.
I had to struggle with the gnawing sense of the radical nature of our belief: the deceased person, lying there motionless, in front of me will receive a new body, a resurrected body. When you hear the belief succinctly, maybe it starts to strike your mind, as it did mine, that we make a bold claim as Christians. We accept this promise of God based on the first fruits of this Resurrection of the Body with the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is a sign for the new life God wills to give all people, a resurrected Body with a renewed heart.
My sympathy with the Corinthians stems from the fact that our minds often forget how good God is to us. Granted, many causes could be attributed to my experience or a similar experience of yours, like a scientific skepticism or feelings of unworthiness. When I prayed that night over that doubt, I found the Lord reassuring me in prayer, “Yep, that is what I am going to do for the family member of the friend who passed, for everyone, including you. I have done it once before, have I not? . . .” And so he has, and so he will do again for sinners like you and me.
Is my life marked by a hope in the Resurrection of the Body? Where is God laboring to show me His goodness to me and to creation?