Monday, November 14, 2016
Acts, Chapter 24, Verse 15
I have the same hope in God as they themselves have that there will be a
resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous.
Paul in his trial before
Felix the Roman Governor for sedition is explaining that he believes everything
in the Jewish law and the prophets. He also explains he believes in the
resurrection of the just and unjust, as in Dan 12: 2.[1]
Many
of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting
life, others to reproach and everlasting disgrace.
The Resurrection of the Dead[2]
The
Bible tells us that when Jesus returns to earth, he will physically raise all
those who have died, giving them back the bodies they lost at death. These
will be the same bodies people had in earthly life—but our resurrection bodies
will not die and, for the righteous, they will be transformed into a glorified
state, freed from suffering and pain, and enabled to do many of the amazing
things Jesus could do with his glorified body (cf. 1 Cor. 15:35–44, 1 John
3:2). The resurrection of the body is an essential Christian doctrine, as
the apostle Paul declares: "[I]f the dead are not raised, then Christ has
not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you
are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have
perished" (1 Cor. 15:13–18). Because, as Paul tells us, the Christian
faith cannot exist without this doctrine, it has been infallibly defined by the
Church. It is included in the three infallible professions of faith—the
Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed—and has been
solemnly, infallibly taught by ecumenical councils. The Fourth Lateran
Council (1215), infallibly defined that at the second coming Jesus "will
judge the living and the dead, to render to every person according to his works,
both to the reprobate and to the elect. All of them will rise with their own
bodies, which they now wear, so as to receive according to their deserts,
whether these be good or bad [Rom. 2:6–11]" (constitution 1). Most
recently, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterated this
long-defined teaching, stating, "‘We believe in the true resurrection of
this flesh that we now possess’ (Council of Lyons II). We sow a corruptible
body in the tomb, but he raises up an incorruptible body, a ‘spiritual body’
(cf. 1 Cor 15:42–44)" (CCC 1017).
NIHIL OBSTAT: I have concluded that the materials
presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004
presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004
IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
According to the almanac today is a Full Beaver Moon; plan to spend some time watching the Narnia series or reading “The Witch the Lion and the Wardrobe” which is a resurrection story with your children or grandchildren.
COURAGE FOR THE MODERN WORLD 2017

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