Die So We Live

By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Lk.21:19

Jesus is warning all followers that tribulations will come, including death. But dying for Jesus gains life. 

I'm reminded of a scene in the animated movie, Over the Hedge. The Opossum dad is explaining to his teenage daughter why opossum's feign death when in danger. "Playing Opossum is what we do. We die so that we live!"

Die so that we live. Yes, there's a mystery to this, but we have Jesus' resurrection to assure us. Saint Paul writes,  "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." 1Cor.15:19,20

Christian belief in hope for the resurrection and an afterlife is central to our faith. Without the promise of life after death, we followers of Christ, who often face persecution and sacrifice in our earthly lives for his sake, would be the most unfortunate or "miserable" of all people.

Thanks be to God, we are the most joyful! 

Come Holy spirit, grant us endurance that we may stand up and lift our heads for our redemption draws near.