The Place Of Our Resurrection
In the ancient Church in Ireland, Christian monks often practiced a certain type of pilgrimage. They would set out on a journey with no particular destination in mind. They called this “searching for the place of their resurrection”. The point was to go to that place to which they felt drawn by the Holy Spirit, and establish that place as their hermitage and, in keeping with the vow of stability, remain there for the rest of their lives. More often than not other monks would join them. Sometimes a whole community of people seeking spiritual guidance would gather around them. This search could take years and often involved leaving their homelands far behind.
On the most basic level, of course, the phrase means they are looking for a place to live until they die, and from whence they will experience their resurrection at the return of the risen Jesus. On another level it also meant they were looking for a place to put down spiritual roots, to die to self, and experience spiritual resurrection in the power of God’s Spirit. They did not see this conversion as something would happen instantly. They saw conversion as the work of God, but often plodding and slow because of the resistance of our own human wills. It took much prayer, study, and service to die to self in this life, and be raised to God in this life and in the world to come. Human sin is not easily overcome, but if we are open to God’s life and work with in us, we will see progress. Thus a place of resurrection is also in this world as we seek to grow in grace and become better disciples.
We are celebrating Easter on April 8th this year. As I write this we are very much into the life of springtime with an early warm up. We are reminded that life emerges from death in the warmth and beauty of spring. Unlike the natural world though, resurrection is not a natural occurrence. It is a gift of grace. Jesus lives! He lives as an act of God the Father restoring his life. He lives giving life to us, raising us from the depths of death and sin to life, and making us new by his grace. The work of our own resurrection is here and now. This place is the place of our resurrection. This time is our time of eternal life. Jesus lives and life takes on a new meaning. A song of life began that first Easter Sunday that sweeps us along in a chorus of God’s love for all eternity. As the scriptures say, “today is the day of salvation”. Know the life of the living Christ within, and know a life that is eternal in this world and the next. Know a life that can be difficult and challenging, but the reward is discovery of the power of love and life. Jesus lives and so do we! This is the place of our resurrection. This is the time to come to life. He lives, and we are alive! Glory be to God for the gift of life into eternity!
In His Living Grace,
Jim Stahr
In the ancient Church in Ireland, Christian monks often practiced a certain type of pilgrimage. They would set out on a journey with no particular destination in mind. They called this “searching for the place of their resurrection”. The point was to go to that place to which they felt drawn by the Holy Spirit, and establish that place as their hermitage and, in keeping with the vow of stability, remain there for the rest of their lives. More often than not other monks would join them. Sometimes a whole community of people seeking spiritual guidance would gather around them. This search could take years and often involved leaving their homelands far behind.
On the most basic level, of course, the phrase means they are looking for a place to live until they die, and from whence they will experience their resurrection at the return of the risen Jesus. On another level it also meant they were looking for a place to put down spiritual roots, to die to self, and experience spiritual resurrection in the power of God’s Spirit. They did not see this conversion as something would happen instantly. They saw conversion as the work of God, but often plodding and slow because of the resistance of our own human wills. It took much prayer, study, and service to die to self in this life, and be raised to God in this life and in the world to come. Human sin is not easily overcome, but if we are open to God’s life and work with in us, we will see progress. Thus a place of resurrection is also in this world as we seek to grow in grace and become better disciples.
We are celebrating Easter on April 8th this year. As I write this we are very much into the life of springtime with an early warm up. We are reminded that life emerges from death in the warmth and beauty of spring. Unlike the natural world though, resurrection is not a natural occurrence. It is a gift of grace. Jesus lives! He lives as an act of God the Father restoring his life. He lives giving life to us, raising us from the depths of death and sin to life, and making us new by his grace. The work of our own resurrection is here and now. This place is the place of our resurrection. This time is our time of eternal life. Jesus lives and life takes on a new meaning. A song of life began that first Easter Sunday that sweeps us along in a chorus of God’s love for all eternity. As the scriptures say, “today is the day of salvation”. Know the life of the living Christ within, and know a life that is eternal in this world and the next. Know a life that can be difficult and challenging, but the reward is discovery of the power of love and life. Jesus lives and so do we! This is the place of our resurrection. This is the time to come to life. He lives, and we are alive! Glory be to God for the gift of life into eternity!
In His Living Grace,
Jim Stahr
posted by Theoblogger at
3:51 PM
