I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE_Dr.Douaa Girgis

How is it that we can live and never die? Or that we can live even though we are physically dead? True death is not of the physical body, but it is a separation from GOD through sin. Therefore, life is communion with GOD, fellowship with HIM on both a spiritual and a physical level. Spiritual steadfastness in our love for GOD and others is the fruit of the Resurrection.

For the resurrection has enlightened us with the most powerful love of GOD. That is why the Psalmist says with the SPIRIT of prophesy, “‘Because of the suffering of the needy, And because of the groaning of the poor, Now I will arise,’ says the LORD; ‘I will establish them in salvation; I will declare it boldly.’” (Ps. 11:6) We suffer because of our sins, because of our pride which prevents us from truly loving one another, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (St. James 4:1) But the resurrection heals this disease, Fitting indeed, then, and wholly consonant was the death on the cross for us; and we can see how reasonable it was, and why it is that the salvation of the world could be accomplished in no other way. Even on the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker. Then, having once let it be seen that it was truly dead, He did   not allow that temple of His body to linger long, but forthwith on the third day raised it up, impassable and incorruptible, the pledge and token of His   victory.

Your browser may not support display of this image. It was, of course, within His power thus to have raised His body and displayed it as alive directly after death. But the all-wise Savior did not do this, lest some should deny that it had really or completely died. Besides this, had the interval between His

death and resurrection been but two days, the glory of His incorruption might not have appeared. He waited one whole day to show that His body was  really dead, and then on the third day showed it incorruptible to all. The interval was no longer, lest people should have forgotten about it and grown doubtful whether it were in truth the same body. No, while the affair was still ringing in their ears and their eyes were still straining and their minds in turmoil, and while those who had put Him to death were still on the spot and themselves witnessing to the fact of it, the Son of God after three days showed His once dead body immortal and incorruptible; and it was evident to all that it was from no natural weakness that the body which the Word indwelt had died, but in order that in it by the Savior’s power death might be done away.

The resurrection of our BELOVED LORD was therefore an act of love through HIS abundant mercy towards us. In order for us to live in the light and the power of the resurrection we must love one another as the LORD first loved us, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.” (1John. 2:9)

Living the life of the resurrection also requires a physical relationship with the risen LORD through the sacraments, and most prominently, the EUCHARIST. As the LORD JESUS taught us, “I AM the LIVING BREAD which came down form heaven. If anyone eats of THIS BREAD, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is MY FLESH, which I shall give for the life of the whole world…Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the FLESH of the SON of MAN and drink HIS BLOOD, you have no life in you. Whoever eats MY FLESH and drinks MY BLOOD has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ” (St. John 6:51, 53-55) This was the message of the Risen LORD to the disciples, as it was also the message of the disciples, namely, the  resurrection of the LORD, and the fruits thereof, i.e. the sacraments, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the FATHER and with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.” (1John1:3) And this is also the message that we will hear in church during the Pentecostal Period of the Resurrection. In turn, this is the message of every Christian person for himself and for all his contacts, from generation to generation. “Blessed are those who do HIS commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city…Blessed and holy is he who has part in the  first resurrection.” (Rev. 22:14, 20:6)

dr douaa girgis