|
| |
Meditation: December 30, 2007
|
| "
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and
blood, he himself likewise shared the same things,
so that through death he might destroy the one who
has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free
those who all their lives were held in slavery by
the fear of death. "
Hebrews 2:14-15 |
| |
|
|
Reflection: |
When I was
a graduate student in England, I was asked many
questions about the American way of death. People
wanted me to clarify what they had heard about our
funeral practices, especially the cost involved. As
recently as last summer, a Danish relative shared
with me his surprise at seeing in America the name
of a living relative on a tombstone. In fact, he was
standing with her in the cemetery where the
tombstone also had the first two digits of a year in
place. The practice of getting one's tombstone in
order does force one to deal with the inevitability
of death. Life after death, however, is the real
issue and some Christians want to deal with the rest
of the story as well. They plan and write down their
wishes for parts of their services that in the end
are celebrations of resurrection. They know, to use
the words from a carol, that "Now ye need not fear
the grave; Jesus Christ was born to save!"
I read about a pastor who spoke of life after
death in a Christmas Eve sermon. Describing how
Christ had come to destroy not only the fear of
death but death itself, he spoke words that were
again used at his own memorial service. His words
give a vision of life after death:
"I will be more alive than I have ever been in
my life, and I will be looking down upon you poor
people who are still in the land of dying and have
not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I
will be alive forevermore, in greater health and
vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has
known before."
What a witness! What assurance! |
| |
|
|
|
|
Prayer: |
Heavenly
Father, let the message that "Christ was born to
save!" carry us into and through the New Year. Amen
|
| |
|
|
|
Question of
the Week: |
In what
ways can I share the Good News in the coming years? |
| |
|
|
|
| Meditation
written by
Marilyn Kramme of the
St. John's Writing Team. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|