A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings
The Israelites did what the Lord commanded and ultimately were blessed for their faithfulness. Pharaoh, his officials, and all the Egyptians chose to lean on their own understanding and as a result cried aloud as their disobedience brought death upon their firstborn. It becomes quite clear to here that choices have consequences. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we will begin making good choices. Pharaoh, having realized the error of his ways, summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, "Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord, as you said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!" What Pharaoh failed to realize is that blessings do not come upon just because we stop making bad choices or feel apologetic for the hurt or pain we have caused others. We are blessed only when we make good choices because we truly understand and celebrate the goodness of God. The Egyptians awareness of their bad choice did not lead them to making a good choice. They were just afraid of the Israelites. Leaning on their own understanding, the Egyptians urged the people of Israel to hasten their departure from the land, for they said, "We shall all be dead." The first step to recovery is usually to acknowledge that we have a problem. The Egyptians did this. While this is commendable, it is not sufficient for lasting change. We must believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity, and we must make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. This is where Pharaoh, his officials, and the Egyptians failed. In what ways have we made good choices? What bad choices have we made? Why might it be easier for us to acknowledge we have a problem than it is for us to acknowledge that God is our solution? How willing are we to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God?
Is resurrection a real thing? Some will say yes, and some will say no. From the very moment of Christ’s resurrection to this very day, arguments have been made for both sides. The truth is that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation of salvation has been in vain and our faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ - whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. If we are still in our sins, then those who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, then we are of all people most to be pitied. Therefore, let us ask the question again - Is resurrection a real thing? We believe that Christ has been raised from the dead, and that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died. Death came through a human being - for all die in Adam. The resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being - for all will be made alive in Christ. Argue if you must but one day the truth will no longer be up for debate or discussion. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and that he is the way, the truth and the life. Then those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will enter into the fulness of eternal salvation.
The resurrected Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalene, and she went out and told the disciples about what she had witnessed. Unfortunately, when they heard her testimony, they refused to believe it. What sacred story have we shared with others? Has our sharing been welcomed and embraced or shunned and rejected? What makes us want to share our story with others? Why might we hesitate in telling our story? Is sharing our story with everyone a good or bad idea - explain? How might Mary Magdalene have felt and thought after her vulnerability and transparency with others was frowned upon? Christ criticized the eleven apostles for their lack of faith and stubbornness in not believing those who had shared their sacred story. Christ explained to them that the one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. Each of us are different, and there are different reasons why we choose to believe or not believe certain people. In our mind, what criteria have to be met in order for us to welcome and embrace fully the sacred story of someone else? What do these criteria say about how we view ourselves and how we view others?
To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Thomas+
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