The 1 Thessalonians lesson for Sunday is one on which even a good 45 minute Presbyterian sermon could barely scratch the surface. Dealing with some of the questions that most haunt theologians, pastors, and laity alike I can imagine what the sermon conversation around this passage might look like at Solomon's Porch - seven hours later whoever is leading the discussion rises from the drool puddle on the altar table to suggest that the Monday work day is only a few hours away and maybe they should all go home and get some rest.
The issues surrounding 1) the bodily resurrection of the dead, 2) the "rapture", 3) the paradise that awaits us, and 4) the Church expectant are too numerous to count, but are certainly worth a bit of time to discuss and pray about. I point the kind reader to my friend Matt who wrote a fine piece about this topic for his All Saints' musings - here.
I don't have a lot of answers today, but the questions rumbling are keeping my mind active, and "they" say that's a good thing. What does it mean that God will "bring with him those who have died"? What will it be like to be "caught up in the clouds"? What sort of encouragement is there in this period of waiting where we mourn the loss of friends and loved ones? Questions, questions, questions.
I leave you with a story of my Greek Professor from Seminary, TL. TL is an African-American priest serving on a campus that was built by African slaves and founded by slave-holding laymen and bishops. The story goes that TL's burial plot in the Seminary cemetery is right next to Bishop Meade, a notorious low-church bishop who was also a slave-owner in antebellum Virginia. TL hopes to be buried in the high church regalia of his office as priest (chausible, etc.) so that on the day of the resurrection he can raise up, next to Bishop Meade, as a black man wearing a chausible buried in the VTS cemetery.
What does 1 Thessalonains have to say about any of this stuff? What does the lesson from Matthew have to say about my worrying with these questions? hmm.
1 comment:
I don't think anyone can answer the question about the "between time" or the "liminal time" of the kingdom present and future.
I have been drawn more and more to the beatitudes from Sunday and some of these readings like Thessalonians as opening a door to God. People who are meek, mourning, caught as peacemakers between friends and family fighting, poor in spirit or posessions, and certainly those persecuted are all in an emotional and likely spiritual position to realize they are not in charge, they need help and are therefore open to God. I certainly don't think that God causes death to humble us- but I can see the "blessed-ness" of reaching out to God with our hearts instead of from positions of power . . .
Not an answer but more for the conversation . . .
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