Share the Glory – Body and Soul...
Reflections on the readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 17, 2019): JER 17:5-8; PS 1:1-2,3,4,6; 1COR 15:12,16-20; LK 6:17,20-26
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
In the letter St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he takes on those among them who do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
Paul points out the folly of their unbelief. After all, if we say we believe that Jesus is our Savior, we must believe all He says and does. Our Lord is not a philosopher offering a new and theoretical way of living – as beautiful, generous and good as it is. He is the Son of God who loves us and sacrificed Himself so that we share eternity with Him. After His death, Jesus rose from the dead – body and soul. And that is the promise for all of us who claim Him as our Lord and Redeemer. “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20).
Every time we pray the Apostles’ Creed we proclaim our belief in the resurrection of the body. Yes, the power of God will reunite our immortal souls with our risen bodies on that last day. We will have life everlasting in His Divine Presence. All this is beyond our human understanding, but not beyond our faith and hope in an all-powerful and all-merciful Lord.
Suggested missionary action: We can pray today for those in Purgatory awaiting eternity in heaven. And we can also thank our Lord for His overwhelming gift of salvation that calls us to His merciful embrace in life everlasting.
