The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, February 14th: Jeremiah 17:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20; Luke 6: 17, 20-26)

YOUNG PUP REMINDS US RESURRECTION IS THE KEY

In this week’s second reading from 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, St. Paul discusses the heart of the Christian faith: belief in the Resurrection. Here are some thoughts on that passage, written about 15 years ago in the final chapter of a little book by a naïve young pup.

Have you ever been to a funeral where there were a lot of agnostics and skeptics in attendance? Have you noticed how they simply refuse to look directly at the guest of honor? That dead body lying there in the middle of the room is just too disturbing. It reminds them of the one thing they’ve tried so hard to put out of their minds: the fact that we all will die someday.

If you are convinced that our natural, physical life is all there is, if you truly believe that upon death we cease to exist, then attending funerals or contemplating mortality can be downright torturous.

How different it is with many Christians. In some churches they are so sure that the deceased’s soul has gone on to a glorious heavenly reward, they don’t bother having funeral services. They have graduation ceremonies. Talk about chutzpah. It takes a lot of faith and courage to look death straight in the eye and laugh.

But that’s exactly what faith in Jesus can do. The whole point of Christianity, the whole Gospel message, is that Christ has conquered death and we can, too. If that’s not true, then everything else is a waste of time. The apostle Paul says as much in his first letter to the Corinthians: “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile….If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:16-19).

There are a lot of earthly benefits to being a Christian: emotional peace, serenity, sobriety, etc. But if there is no hope for eternal life, if the secular humanists are correct that life is a random, meaningless accident which ends tragically at the moment of death, then we might as well crack open a bottle of tequila and max out the VISA and MasterCard right now.

The hope and faith in eternal life is the key difference between Christians and secular humanists….

This assurance, this hope, this confidence in eternal life makes all the difference. It is what allows us to live as “James Bond Christians.”

Well, OK, I’d better explain that one:

When I was a kid, I just loved those James Bond movies…. The greatest thing about the character, Agent 007, was that no matter how perilous the situation became, he was always as cool as a cucumber. It was as if he KNEW no harm could ever come to him….

I can remember thinking that it would be so great to KNOW that my life was part of a grand script…and that no matter how awful a situation might be, everything would ultimately turn out fine. Then I could relax and not be scared and maybe be almost as cool as James Bond. (Of course, when I winked at my 5th grade teacher and said, “Hello, beautiful. I’ll have a vodka martini with a twist…shaken not stirred,” that particular situation didn’t turn out so fine.)

Well, despite being a weird analogy, this is what the Christian faith allows us to do. God has assured us that we are part of his grand plan in which we shall be, unequivocally and absolutely, victorious. When an eternal perspective is added to our natural life-span, we are able to realize that no matter what happens here and now, our ultimate fate is victory and glory.

Paul explained it in his letter to the Romans: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

With a faith and a hope such as this, we can handle whatever comes our way just like “James Bond Christians.” We simply know that the bad guys can’t get us. Even if it’s joblessness, or homelessness, or cancer, or a head-on collision which ends our life instantly, we simply know that God has prepared in advance a marvelous place for us….

In conclusion…when it comes time for my funeral, I don’t want any weeping or hand-wringing, understand? Save the tears and flowers for some other occasion and have a graduation party instead. And remember to put a diploma in my casket.

Oh, wasn’t he so cute, with his cock-sure optimism, split infinitives, and misuse of the words “which” and “that”? Don’t you just want to give that mid-1990s guy a big hug?

But overall, he made a reasonably good point. Scripture teaches that the Resurrection is the heart of our faith, and it is the one sure proof that God can overcome death. Our faith in this supernatural miracle, along with our trust in Christ, is what allows us to have confidence in eternal life. And it allows us even to laugh in the faith of death, as St. Paul did: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

God never promised our journey here on earth would be easy—something the pup began to learn in recent years. However, despite our trials and tribulations, we still can be joyful and confident because our God is more powerful than death. He reigns on high forever and ever, and He loves us more than we can comprehend.

The Resurrection and eternal life make all the difference. The truth of the Resurrection and the promise of eternal life allow us to be shaken, but not stirred. We face many difficulties, but we if we put our faith in Jesus and cling to His promises, we will never be defeated. 

(By the way, if anyone is interested in a copy of the little book, “Boomer Trek: One Baby Boomer’s Surprising Journey from Secular Humanism to Faith in God”—complete with a comical photo on the back cover of the dark-haired pup—just send me an email with your address and I’ll mail you a copy.)

©2010