Thinking of Easter today I , of course, remember the resurrection of Christ. But I also remember resurrection as the seal of the promise of Christ for us to be resurrected too.
I read Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright recently and he talked about this future resurrection of our bodies. The book really did open my eyes to hope. The title wasn't misleading. Wright wrote in his book that this future hope is our present hope. Because as God will remake us, he will remake heaven and earth, bringing us a New Jerusalem. What shook me about Wright's book is his belief all we do now is not wasted. Every tiny gift, every single act of kindness we will see again. God builds it into this future kingdom.
There are a few verses about us reigning with God, being co-rulers in the new world God will make. Is now making. To learn that everything I do is important to the work now and later has filled my mind with wonder and hope.
I thought of it this morning reading at Starbucks. I read Walt Whitman's poem I Dreamed in a Dream, which compares to Revelation 21's prophecy of the New Jerusalem. I also read Dylan Thomas' poem I Dreamed My Genesis, which is all about this future resurrection. I'll include here the last two stanzas of that work:
And power was contagious in my birth, second
Rise of the skeleton and
Rerobing of the naked ghost. Manhood
Spat up from the resuffered pain.
I dreamed my genesis in sweat of death, fallen
Twice in the feeding sea, grown
Stale of Adam's brine, until vision
Of new man strength, I seek the sun.
Easter is a reminder of the promise and a renewal of hope. Not the sort of hope you wait for, but the active inspiration of God. The energetic response to his call.
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