What does Christian hope truly mean when it comes to death and the afterlife? Join Br. Joe Trout, OP for this insightful "A Word of Hope" reflection for Saturday of the Third Week of Easter.
We often imagine a devout person passing away and entering a "heavenly reward" or peaceful, disembodied rest. Yet, in the Acts of the Apostles (cf. Acts 9:36-43), when the beloved and charitable Tabitha (Dorcas) dies, St. Peter miraculously raises her back to this life. Why would he do this if she was already destined for heavenly peace? Was it simply so she could continue her work?
Br. Joe Trout delves into this profound question, contrasting our modern notions of the afterlife with the early Church's vibrant and deeply held belief in bodily resurrection. Discover why the first Christians understood that merely "being with God" in spirit, while good, wasn't the ultimate fulfillment. Instead, they longed for the Resurrection of the Dead—a future transformation into a new, tangible, and more glorious bodily life, a life of which Jesus Christ is the first fruit.
This Easter season message explores God's profound love for His creation and His desire for it not to be defeated by death, but to be made eternally and physically alive. Learn about the Christian hope for a "New Jerusalem" and the promise of a resurrection that is more real, more physical, and more spiritual than we can often comprehend.
This reflection challenges us to ponder the true depth of Easter hope: not just a spiritual existence, but the promise of real, resurrected life in a renewed creation. What does the raising of Tabitha teach us about our own future and the powerful Christian hope for eternal life?
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