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ALIVE IN THE MIDST OF DEATH

Writer's picture: Olufunmilayo AdekusibeOlufunmilayo Adekusibe
 

Readings:

Acts 3:1-10

Psalm 105:1-4,6-9

Luke 24:13-35

 


A regular feature of my day is the mixture of joy and sorrow. I can be celebrating someone’s birthday in the morning, wishing them God’s blessings, long life and prosperity, and in the evening,  I am commiserating with a family that has just lost a loved one—a parent, a sibling, a child. And this odd mixture of life and death, this constant tension between joy and gloom, is something we must come to terms with as Christians. I say “as Christians” because we celebrate Easter, the resurrection of Christ. Resurrection from what? From death. He was tortured, crucified and died. And he spent three days in the belly of the earth. And on the third day, he rose to life. And he rose to never die again. The Christian hope is not in denying death. It is a fact that death is not the end of life. Death is only a doorway leading to eternal life. Many times, I am taken aback when people grieve as though death is a finality.


There is a valuable lesson in the journey of the disciples to Emmaus. Jesus accompanies them and “something prevented them from recognizing him”. That something, I think, is gloom and sadness. It has a way of making you feel hopeless. You need to visit the scene of someone who has recently passed, and you will see different ways people grieve. Some curse the living, others curse the dead. Some remain in shock and disbelief, praying for resuscitation. Amid our blindness and grief, Jesus walks with us. The disciples told Jesus, “We had hoped that he would be the one to set Israel free.” At this point, they had given up hope. Jesus called them fools, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ He was ordained to suffer death, to rise to glory. This is the good news of Easter. We too must die on three levels.


  • The first is death to sin. Death to sinful habits so that you can rise to the holiness of life. If you die of selfishness and sin, you will embrace the risen Lord with open arms who welcomes us when we leave this world.

  • The second is death to superstitions. This is the feeling that death is not your portion (whose portion is it then?). This is promoted by a false teaching about death. With death to superstition, we accept that life is short and stay prepared always.

  • The third is more emotional—death to despair. Do not allow yourself to grieve to the point of losing hope. In those moments, Christ reaches out to us and consoles us. He fed the disciples at Emmaus with the words of Scripture and the breaking of the Eucharistic bread which opened their eyes.


Manage your grief and look forward with hope. Be like the crippled man who was cured. He had no hope of ever walking but the apostles offered him healing in Christ’s name. In the same way, rise from your grief and walk in hope. Peace be with you.

                                                                                                JUDE-MARY OWOH


 

To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”

If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.


 

Prayer:

  1. I bless this new day for you in Jesus' name. May God grant you wisdom to know the shortness of your life. I pray you receive grace to stay in holiness, to love those around you and to make peace with your God. May God deliver you from sudden and unprepared death in Jesus' name. Amen.

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