Thirty-Second of Year C
November 2010
Today the theme is ‘our great hope as Christians.’
There is little doubt that the best way for human beings to live is according to the teaching and example of Jesus of Nazareth. That is in mutual support, tolerance, forgiveness and even love. All the major religions teach us this.
There are many examples where, for a time, individuals or groups within all the major religions have lost sight of this basic teaching for personal or political ambition.
The latter, however, does not in any way negate the validity of this basic teaching.
But Christianity is much more than just living in accordance with this basic human ethic.
Christianity teaches me that I am created in the image and likeness of God and therefore should live like God Himself. Furthermore I am a child of God and as such will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Jesus of Nazareth died and was raised from the dead to live with God his Father in Eternal Life.
I too will be raised from the dead to live with God my Father in Eternal Life.
This is basic to Christian belief.
As St Paul says ‘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.’
And again; ‘If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.’
Humanism is a good and useful philosophy of life. As a person it can motivate me to live at peace with the people I come into contact with. As a nation it can motivate us to live at peace with surrounding nations - but it leaves out the spiritual.
It ignores the spiritual dimension that surrounds and enfolds me.
It ignores the existence of my God in whom I live and move and have my being.
It leaves me, when all is said and done, facing nothing but the black hole of nothingness.
People will say that it is impossible to know that there is life after death.
People will say that it is impossible to know that God exists.
It is also impossible to know whether my house will be burnt down or not.
It is impossible to know whether my house will be burgled or not.
Nevertheless I pay a large amount of hard earned money every year to insure against fire and theft.
People will say that resurrection from death is a pipe dream with no basis in reality.
Nevertheless we recommend morphine for the terminally ill to ease them painlessly into death.
If belief in God, if belief in resurrection and life after death eases me through life and death what is wrong with that.
At least it is not bad for my health.