The Resurrection and our eternal worth
The liberation from death that came with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection marked the beginning of Christian life for us. God becoming man changed everything. It may be intellectually baffling, but God becoming human changed us. In much the same way our becoming the body of Christ changes everything.
Our rising up out of the water of baptism symbolizes the new life we have in Christ. This is a visible sign of the inward grace we have received, making us alive in Christ Jesus.
Emerging from the water, cleansed by the blood of Christ, the believer is a beautiful picture of renewal, commitment, and belonging to God’s family. This growth into the family of God does not all happen on the day of a baby’s baptism.
In like manner, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem did not complete the process of Jesus becoming one of us. Mary and Joseph cared for the baby Jesus. He grew and learned obedience and scripture from them and from his Jewish community. They took him to the temple many times.
We grew in much the same way. Mom and Dad took us to church many times. Mom carefully checked our ears on the way to make sure the farm dust was removed. By example and instruction, our grandparents, aunts and uncles and the larger parish community taught us what it means to be a Christian.
Jesus was a very gifted learner. By age twelve he challenged the temple priests with his insights. This process of divinization took years, but Jesus was an accomplished teacher when he emerged into his public life to teach and preach. His greatest lessons were about love, forgiveness and patterns of life that we should follow.
The lessons Jesus taught us are well illustrated with his parables. Love God above all; love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Forgive seventy-seven times. In fact, Jesus taught us a pray that reminds us daily to forgive others as we hope to be forgiven.
The beatitudes give us a spiritual navigation system for our lives (Matthew 5). We can be happy if we are poor in spirit, gentle, peacemakers, merciful, just, and so on. We will be a light to the world and bear fruit for the kingdom.
The corporal works of mercy in Matthew 25:35-40 tell us how to live. We will be judged on how we shared our food and drink with the hungry, our clothing with the naked, our shelter with the homeless; on how we visited the sick and imprisoned and buried the dead.
Likewise, depending on our training, we are obligated to perform the spiritual works of mercy: admonish the sinner, instruct the unknowing, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries and pray for the living and the dead.
Jesus called us into unity the night before his death. His prayer to the Father gives us hope. In his vision, our unity and love “will shine so brightly that the world may know that you sent me” (John 17:23).
“That they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me.” God is in Jesus. Jesus is in us, in endless self-giving love. Our unity with others and the world, will heal all divisions. It was not just John Lennon’s vision, “That the world will be as one.” It is also the prayer of Jesus.
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