In this Tuesday in Easter Week, we hear from Paul’s first Letter to the Corinthians. We can see how Paul’s encounter with the Risen Christ transformed his life. Paul cannot help but preach the Good News of salvation in Christ, and central to that Good News is the Resurrection:
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your 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, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘All things are put in subjection’, it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15: 12-28).
Just as we cannot water down the Cross of Christ, we cannot water down the Resurrection. Through the Resurrection, God is recreating the world, and Jesus is the first fruit of that recreation. You and I share in that Resurrection because we will be raised up on that last day.
Let us pray: O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Wednesday, 27 April at 6 p.m. at the William Temple Episcopal Center: St. Augustine will be the medical students. Please bring a side dish. We expect about 60 people.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY:
You can be a witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by participating in: the Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Sunday Fellowship Breakfast, the History Project, SASS, Saturday Art Classes, the Community Garden, the Annual Art Show, praying for those on our Prayer List, the Altar Guild and feeding the medical students at WTEC.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your 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, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘All things are put in subjection’, it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15: 12-28).
Just as we cannot water down the Cross of Christ, we cannot water down the Resurrection. Through the Resurrection, God is recreating the world, and Jesus is the first fruit of that recreation. You and I share in that Resurrection because we will be raised up on that last day.
Let us pray: O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Wednesday, 27 April at 6 p.m. at the William Temple Episcopal Center: St. Augustine will be the medical students. Please bring a side dish. We expect about 60 people.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY:
You can be a witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by participating in: the Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Sunday Fellowship Breakfast, the History Project, SASS, Saturday Art Classes, the Community Garden, the Annual Art Show, praying for those on our Prayer List, the Altar Guild and feeding the medical students at WTEC.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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