"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4:14
It's easy to forget just how radical our belief in the Resurrection is. Not only do we believe that Jesus rose from the dead – which is kind of easy since he's God – we also believe that at the end of time when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead, all who have died will be resurrected. For the earliest Christians, everything hinged on this belief. What causes you and me to forget about this critical part of our faith? Maybe it's the prevailing sense in the culture that is obsessed with power and comfort and prestige to the point of ignoring consequences. How can we think about rising from the dead when we don't even believe that death is a reality? Believing that we will rise with Christ on the last day, however, gives us hope. We do not have to be afraid of death because the Lord has already shown us that it is not truly the end.
Is your life determined by fear or hope?
Lord Jesus, you conquered sin and death once and for all. Help me to conquer my fear and place my trust in you.
Today's Reflection by:
Dcn. Zach Brasseur
Did you know...
Deacon Zach Brasseur is a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, currently in his final year of formation. His home parish is St. Paul's in St. Petersburg and he is an alumnus of Saint Leo University. Zach enjoys golf, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the music of the Avett Brothers. His favorite bible verse is John 6:68.
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