We want to know ‘what will it be like?’, but we can’t always imagine the future (1 Corinthians 15.35-38,42-50).
Context
Seven Labour MPs announced on Monday that they were leaving the Labour Party and setting up a separate political group. Another Labour MP followed.
Honda announced on Tuesday that it would be closing its plant in Swindon in 2021. This will lead to the loss of 3,500 jobs.
A young woman who left the UK to join Islamic State when she was 15 wants to return with her baby. Public reaction seems to be against allowing her to return, and the Home Secretary has withdrawn her citizenship (though this will almost certainly be challenged in the courts). However, there have been some thoughtful contributions to the debate from Christians pointing out that she was so young when she left under the influence of extremist grooming.
Reflection
In this passage from the letter to the Corinthians, Paul is talking about the resurrection of the dead, and is addressing the question, ‘What will it be like?’ People needed help to understand such a radical prospect. We can understand their need to know.
There is a parallel process happening in relation to our world. When something happens, or we know something is going to happen, we want to know ‘what will it be like?’ When Brexit happens, what will it be like? If there is no deal, what will it be like for us? When the Honda factory closes in Swindon, what will it be like for the workers, the families, the whole community, and the supply chain? News reports often focus on this question.
It’s impossible to answer this question fully. Some consequences we know about and can anticipate the implications. But there are big unknowns. We can never fully see the way ahead. Sometimes we have to take a deep breath and walk forward into the unknown.
Paul uses metaphor to help us think about what the resurrection of the dead will be like: a seed going into the earth that brings forth a plant. And you can relate the planting of a seed to the burying of a body. But metaphors have their limits. ‘Resurrection Life’ is not like a field of wheat. And when 75% of bodies are cremated, the image is less helpful.
The resurrection of the dead is not about re-animating bodies; the kingdom of God is not for zombies. Similarly, we can’t put life back into old politics or past relationships with other nations or communities. You can’t go back to the way things used to be. When things happen – leaving the European Union or a political party or closing a factory – they change things. What will be is different from the way things are now and the way things used to be.
In terms of the resurrection of the dead, whatever comes about, it will be better than the earthly, physical life we know now. It will be physical, but spiritually physical. In the end, we don’t know exactly what it will be like, but it will be glorious.
Prayer
A meditation to use in a group reflecting on the Gospel.
Lord, if I listen to you, you tell me difficult things.
You say, ‘Love your enemies’, and you expect me to love terrorists.
You say, ‘Do good to those who hate you’, and expect me to be kind to the neighbour who always winds me up.
And then you expect me to bless them and pray for them.
Lord, give me a break.
I can manage loving my family and friends.
And I can cope with handing out care to the needy – that makes me feel good. But I know I can go home and shut the door and have a shower and wash them out of my life.
(Dear Lord, there are some pretty awful people out there, and I know you will sort them all out, and in the meantime you leave it to us to do them good, even when they don’t deserve it.)
(Not that I’m judging them, you understand.)
I do what I can – you can see that, can’t you – and I do a lot more than most people.
I give to the foodbank. I put £5 in the plate at church. I give my unwanted goods to the charity shop.
So I have listened, and I do everything in my power.
And I fill up every minute of my time with doing good, as I mentioned before.
There’s nothing more you can tell about living a good life.
Which is why I avoid the silence. I have done my listening. That’s enough, Lord.
Questions
- Most people have some image in their heads of what happens when we die, and what happens at the end of time when Christ returns and the dead will be raised. What do you think it will be like?
- Reading the Gospel in the light of the story of Shamima Begum is challenging. Is there a limit to loving our enemies, caring for those who hate us, blessing those who curse us, etc? What would forgiveness mean here?
All-age activity
A word game for a group.
The first person says: When I am raised from the dead, I will...
The second person says: When I am raised from the dead, I will... (whatever the first person says, and something else).
The third person says: When I am raised from the dead, I will... (whatever the first and second person said, and something else).
And so on, till they can’t remember it all.
Examples of things they might say: be able to remember things; have no pain in my knee; be able to reach to the stars; be able to sing beautifully; be able to dance; run and jump and leap; love everyone; be kind and helpful…and so on. Let imaginations run wild!
Young people
Have a look at Stanley Spencer’s painting The Resurrection, Cookham.
- Look at all the individual characters. What attracts you? Offends you? Amuses you?
- What does this picture say about the way Stanley Spencer imagined the Resurrection of the Dead?
- How would you depict it?
- Create an artwork together to show the Resurrection in your town.
Meg Gilley is an Anglican parish priest serving in Gateshead
Meg has written PostScript for a long time, and her contributions have been greatly valued by many. This is her final contribution, and we thank Meg so much for all the time and thought she has put in over the years. (Ed.)
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