Dear Parish Family,

The theme of the readings for the 7th and final Sunday of Epiphany is forgiveness, and we’ll explore that on Sunday. But there is also something interesting in the Epistle text. It’s these lines, 1 Cor. 15:47-48:

“The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.”

Of course, it is no mistake that the Lectionary (https://www.lectionarypage.net/) begins to point us to Lent. The people who select the readings for each day of the liturgical calendar do so with prayer and intention. Beyond that, these verses also remind us of the relationship between physical and spiritual beings.

Paul was very focused on preparation for what happens after death. I would imagine that his life was so difficult that he focused on what “someday” would look like. If you or someone you love has lived with intractable pain or depression, you will understand Paul’s perspective easily. It is hard to experience the joy of the here and now when one is miserable in the here and now. 

Paul goes on in the final verse of the text to say:

“What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”

He was pointing the people at the church in Corinth to a life of spirit—a life wherein the struggles of living and physical beings will be over, and they would reside forever with God. 

I am asking you to think about this text and wonder: Are we really meant to separate our physical selves from the image of God in which we were created? In my opinion, and as ever, I do not proclaim this to be more than that, the spiritual and the material are inseparable. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God has come near.” For me, it is not enough to say some day, because it absolves us of the responsibility to fulfill the potential that we all possess to be the beloved community that the Rev. Dr. King talked about, to fulfill the Dream of God, that Verna Dozier talked about. Every Christian should read Ms. Dozier’s book. 

I do not believe the Kingdom of God is only meant to be some day. When we can live our responsibility for being the Kingdom of God here and now as well as for then and someday, we will truly fulfill the great commandment. 

I wish Paul had said “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.” Maybe that would have been useful to the Corinthians, because it is helpful to me. I am much better behaved when I remember that I bear the image of Christ and am responsible for making it visible!

Sending Love and Light,

Pan +