Saturday 14 March 2015

Psalm: Psalm 122

Background

Our week looking at Paul's writing on resurrection ends with histriumphant conclusion that "Death has been swallowed up in victory"(v. 54). Well it nearly ends, because it seems Paul does not wantto leave the Corinthians basking in victory: they are not simply tosit back and wait for the trumpet when they will be changed.Instead, now they have to go out and get on with "the work of theLord" because it won't be wasted.

This week we have seen Paul dealing thoroughly with all kinds ofdeath and resurrection issues, he seems happy to conclude it intriumph, certainty and this amazing celebration:

"Death has been swallowed up invictory."
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"

Perhaps Paul seems confident that he had done enough to teachthe Corinthians to believe in physical resurrection, to not feardanger and to continue to live out their faith. As he does not dealwith these issues much at all in his second letter to Corinth,presumably he felt the issue was settled.

But what about our society today? We live at a time with longerlife expectancy than ever before (hence our various pension fundingcrises and increased retirement age). We live at a time with morecomfort, security and health care than ever before. Does this meanthat as a society we are less afraid of death? Does it mean that weare more prepared for bereavement? Does it seem that death has novictory or sting?

Seemingly not. Possibly because we can see people living longerwe find death even more difficult. We see new forms of publicmourning (such as shrines of flowers at scenes of road deaths) andthe media dwell on the tragic deaths of celebrities. We see agrowth in bereavement counselling and new professional servicesaround death, funerals and mourning.

So would Paul have as much confidence that he had done enough toteach us to have no fear of death?

To Ponder

• Does Paul's teaching make you feel less afraid of death?Why?

• The hospice movement has made a huge contribution in helpingpeople facing death do so with dignity and help them make the bestof their last days. What connections can you see between them andPaul's teaching?

• What do you think would help take victory and sting away fromdeath?