Christ: The Victor Over Death
Sermon
Sermons on the Second Readings
Series III, Cycle C
Object:
In many ways, Nicholas Green was an ordinary seven-year-old boy, but he became a source of life for seven people and a beacon of inspiration for the world. Nicholas was born on New Year's Eve 1986, a new bundle of joy to greet the New Year. Along with his baby sister, Eleanor, and his parents, he enjoyed life and all the fun associated with being a child. With the help of his mother, Maggie, he read all seven books of C. S. Lewis' epic The Chronicles of Narnia. He loved to role play and considered himself a perfect Saint George, pointing out to his parents that he was half English. However, as his parents would often say, he fit the model of Saint George more because he always wanted to do what was right.
When Nicholas was seven years old his family took a vacation to Europe. Among many places they visited was the beautiful Swiss Alps where a family photograph captured Nicholas in front of the fabled Matterhorn. Four days later the family was in Italy sightseeing like so many other American tourists. The date was September 29, 1994. As Nicholas' father was driving a rental car, a band of robbers approached in a daring robbery attempt. In the process, Nicholas was shot in the head. He was rushed to the hospital and after a short amount of time the doctors told his parents that the boy could not survive. He remained in a coma for two days, but the doctors told his parents that Nicholas was brain-dead.
Although the shock and the trauma of the recent days' events could not be calculated, Nicholas' parents asked that their son's vital organs be transplanted into needy individuals. At the time, organ donation was a rare event in Italy. Thus, Nicholas' heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and corneas were used to bring new life to seven Italians, including several children who were near death. The resulting dramatic increase in organ donations in Italy has now been called "the Nicholas effect." In a very real way, Nicholas Green brought new life to several people, but the broader effect of his life and the decision of his parents to share that life with others might be incalculable.
The story of Nicholas and his ability to give new life in multiple ways to several people is truly inspiring. The selfless act of grieving parents who had lost their son was a true act of charity and love. More directly their decision to utilize Nicholas to assist others shows how new life can come in the midst of death and darkness. Thus, this heartwarming story serves as an excellent illustration of Saint Paul's message to the Corinthians in today's lesson -- that Christ is the one who conquers death and brings new life. We can be confident that Jesus will bring new life to us. We, in turn, must do what we can, in our limited and finite ways, to bring new life to others.
In today's lesson, Paul continues his basic resurrection theme that he has expressed throughout the whole of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. We first heard of the resurrection of Christ. We were taught that Jesus' death and resurrection was a supreme sacrifice of love for us. As Christ so sacrificed for us, so must we be willing to sacrifice ourselves, our material possessions, personal needs, and opportunities for the betterment of all. In this way we build the kingdom of God in our world. We were challenged to see the new life Jesus can give us and how we must adequately and properly prepare for this great event. The résumés for life today and for eternal life tomorrow are very difficult. We must spend as much time if not more on the latter if we are to find God at the end of our days. Today Paul concludes his message of new life by saying Jesus is the one who brings victory over death, transforming the perishable into the imperishable, mortal into immortal. As Paul says, God gives us victory through Jesus Christ.
Paul speaks of the new reality we will find at the resurrection of the dead. At the sound of God's command the dead will rise. As Nicholas gave new life to so many, so Christ will transform what is mortal and perishable about us into the immortality of God. Death will have no power; death will be vanquished. God's victory will prevail. The sting of death, namely sin, will be routed by God. Sin and death will no longer have power over us.
Paul concludes by saying that people must be steadfast in the Lord. If we remain faithful to God's command, our labor will not be in vain. Rather, to the contrary, we will move forward in our common efforts to build God's kingdom in our world.
Transforming hopeless situations into ones that find and generate life is not always easy, but there is ample evidence that such events have happened numerous times. Nicholas' story is rather dramatic in that through death he brought victory to so many. He made the impossible possible for others. History presents us with numerous examples of life and victory springing from the clutches of defeat and death. In the history of warfare this is certainly true. How was it in 480 BCE that a vastly inferior force of some 300 Spartans and about 1,000 other allies was able to hold off the entire Persian army at Thermopylae?
While the Persians eventually won the battle, the courage of the Greeks, the casualties they inflicted upon the Persians, and most importantly the time the battle consumed, afforded the Greeks time to consolidate their forces in order to win a decisive naval battle at Salamis. This brought Greece victory in the Greco-Persian War and halted the expansion of the Persian empire into Europe. How was it that the upstart American colonies with a ragtag group of soldiers and without sufficient supplies and divided loyalties among their people were able to defeat the finest military force in the world at the time? I'm sure that most common folks at the time felt the effort was futile. Yet, the colonists rallied behind their leaders and after eight long years of war managed to defeat the British.
There have been some famous political victories that also probably seemed impossible. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was basically an unknown person on the national political scene. All of his rivals in the quest for the Republican presidential nomination were better known and generally speaking eminently more qualified than he: New York Senator William B. Seward, Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates, a distinguished elder statesman from Missouri. Yet through some excellent politicking and a sense of determination, not only did Lincoln win the nomination but the White House when the Democrats split their votes between two men (John C. Breckenridge and Stephen Douglas) and a third-party candidate, John Bell. In more recent memory the pollsters and the American populace in general gave Harry Truman no chance at all in 1948. Most were calling New York Governor Thomas Dewey the winner long before the voting even commenced. However, when people awoke to Truman's upset victory many thought the impossible had been made possible.
Sports also provides some important and improbable wins. In 1986, the New York Mets seemingly had no chance to win the World Series. Down three games to two and behind by five runs in the ninth inning, the end looked near. But an error by Boston Red Sox first baseman, Bill Buckner, gave New York new life. They won the game and the deciding seventh game; they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. In a reverse role in 2004, the Red Sox were down three games to none to the New York Yankees in the American League championship series. Playing at home to close out the series, the Yankees looked like a shoe-in, but the Red Sox never gave up. Not only did they win four straight against the Yankees but continued their winning ways with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals and their first World Series in 86 years. The infamous "Curse of the Bambino" had been broken.
We will face many difficult challenges in our lives, tasks that may seem to be impossible missions. In the journey of our working days we will face trying situations. We may face obstacles that will not allow us to work as we want. Coercion, threat, or the temptation of reward may "force" us to do things in a manner that we know might hurt or ill-effect another. We may be required to relocate in order to stay with the company or worse still our job might be lost. At such times we wonder what we will do and what the future will hold. Families experience many difficult challenges. Some people are asked to walk the road of ill-health with a spouse, child, sister, brother, or another relative. Tough love may be required in our relationship with one who suffers from addiction. Many people must suffer the pain of observing a loved one reject God and the church and opt for the things of the world.
All of us will one day face the death of one close to us. The church will also bring us challenges. We pray fervently to God for our needs, yet our prayers are not answered in the way or time that we want; we might even feel God has abandoned us. Sometimes we lose sight of the road; we move off the track or even reverse course in our journey to God.
We will experience difficult times in our lives, with our jobs, our families, and the church, challenges that may seem to be impossible missions. But if we, like Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and Jesus, can persevere and continue on the road, then God will recognize and reward our efforts. The task will not be easy; the road to God has pitfalls and obstacles. Saint Paul advised his friend, Timothy, of this reality, "Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:8). But he also assured him, "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2:11-12).
We must constantly reevaluate our lives and renew our determination to walk the journey of life, which one day will lead to union with God. It will not be an easy journey, if taken seriously, but it is the only path that will one day lead to eternal life. Let us, therefore, walk the road; let us take on what seems to be mission impossible. Certainly the parents of Nicholas Green had no desire to walk the road that came their way, but they realized their son could give new life to so many and thus, despite their grief, made a courageous decision. In a similar way, God will strengthen us, reward our efforts, and use us to complete his work on earth. Let us follow the lead of Jesus. If we can, our reward in heaven will be great. Amen.
When Nicholas was seven years old his family took a vacation to Europe. Among many places they visited was the beautiful Swiss Alps where a family photograph captured Nicholas in front of the fabled Matterhorn. Four days later the family was in Italy sightseeing like so many other American tourists. The date was September 29, 1994. As Nicholas' father was driving a rental car, a band of robbers approached in a daring robbery attempt. In the process, Nicholas was shot in the head. He was rushed to the hospital and after a short amount of time the doctors told his parents that the boy could not survive. He remained in a coma for two days, but the doctors told his parents that Nicholas was brain-dead.
Although the shock and the trauma of the recent days' events could not be calculated, Nicholas' parents asked that their son's vital organs be transplanted into needy individuals. At the time, organ donation was a rare event in Italy. Thus, Nicholas' heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and corneas were used to bring new life to seven Italians, including several children who were near death. The resulting dramatic increase in organ donations in Italy has now been called "the Nicholas effect." In a very real way, Nicholas Green brought new life to several people, but the broader effect of his life and the decision of his parents to share that life with others might be incalculable.
The story of Nicholas and his ability to give new life in multiple ways to several people is truly inspiring. The selfless act of grieving parents who had lost their son was a true act of charity and love. More directly their decision to utilize Nicholas to assist others shows how new life can come in the midst of death and darkness. Thus, this heartwarming story serves as an excellent illustration of Saint Paul's message to the Corinthians in today's lesson -- that Christ is the one who conquers death and brings new life. We can be confident that Jesus will bring new life to us. We, in turn, must do what we can, in our limited and finite ways, to bring new life to others.
In today's lesson, Paul continues his basic resurrection theme that he has expressed throughout the whole of 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. We first heard of the resurrection of Christ. We were taught that Jesus' death and resurrection was a supreme sacrifice of love for us. As Christ so sacrificed for us, so must we be willing to sacrifice ourselves, our material possessions, personal needs, and opportunities for the betterment of all. In this way we build the kingdom of God in our world. We were challenged to see the new life Jesus can give us and how we must adequately and properly prepare for this great event. The résumés for life today and for eternal life tomorrow are very difficult. We must spend as much time if not more on the latter if we are to find God at the end of our days. Today Paul concludes his message of new life by saying Jesus is the one who brings victory over death, transforming the perishable into the imperishable, mortal into immortal. As Paul says, God gives us victory through Jesus Christ.
Paul speaks of the new reality we will find at the resurrection of the dead. At the sound of God's command the dead will rise. As Nicholas gave new life to so many, so Christ will transform what is mortal and perishable about us into the immortality of God. Death will have no power; death will be vanquished. God's victory will prevail. The sting of death, namely sin, will be routed by God. Sin and death will no longer have power over us.
Paul concludes by saying that people must be steadfast in the Lord. If we remain faithful to God's command, our labor will not be in vain. Rather, to the contrary, we will move forward in our common efforts to build God's kingdom in our world.
Transforming hopeless situations into ones that find and generate life is not always easy, but there is ample evidence that such events have happened numerous times. Nicholas' story is rather dramatic in that through death he brought victory to so many. He made the impossible possible for others. History presents us with numerous examples of life and victory springing from the clutches of defeat and death. In the history of warfare this is certainly true. How was it in 480 BCE that a vastly inferior force of some 300 Spartans and about 1,000 other allies was able to hold off the entire Persian army at Thermopylae?
While the Persians eventually won the battle, the courage of the Greeks, the casualties they inflicted upon the Persians, and most importantly the time the battle consumed, afforded the Greeks time to consolidate their forces in order to win a decisive naval battle at Salamis. This brought Greece victory in the Greco-Persian War and halted the expansion of the Persian empire into Europe. How was it that the upstart American colonies with a ragtag group of soldiers and without sufficient supplies and divided loyalties among their people were able to defeat the finest military force in the world at the time? I'm sure that most common folks at the time felt the effort was futile. Yet, the colonists rallied behind their leaders and after eight long years of war managed to defeat the British.
There have been some famous political victories that also probably seemed impossible. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was basically an unknown person on the national political scene. All of his rivals in the quest for the Republican presidential nomination were better known and generally speaking eminently more qualified than he: New York Senator William B. Seward, Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates, a distinguished elder statesman from Missouri. Yet through some excellent politicking and a sense of determination, not only did Lincoln win the nomination but the White House when the Democrats split their votes between two men (John C. Breckenridge and Stephen Douglas) and a third-party candidate, John Bell. In more recent memory the pollsters and the American populace in general gave Harry Truman no chance at all in 1948. Most were calling New York Governor Thomas Dewey the winner long before the voting even commenced. However, when people awoke to Truman's upset victory many thought the impossible had been made possible.
Sports also provides some important and improbable wins. In 1986, the New York Mets seemingly had no chance to win the World Series. Down three games to two and behind by five runs in the ninth inning, the end looked near. But an error by Boston Red Sox first baseman, Bill Buckner, gave New York new life. They won the game and the deciding seventh game; they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. In a reverse role in 2004, the Red Sox were down three games to none to the New York Yankees in the American League championship series. Playing at home to close out the series, the Yankees looked like a shoe-in, but the Red Sox never gave up. Not only did they win four straight against the Yankees but continued their winning ways with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals and their first World Series in 86 years. The infamous "Curse of the Bambino" had been broken.
We will face many difficult challenges in our lives, tasks that may seem to be impossible missions. In the journey of our working days we will face trying situations. We may face obstacles that will not allow us to work as we want. Coercion, threat, or the temptation of reward may "force" us to do things in a manner that we know might hurt or ill-effect another. We may be required to relocate in order to stay with the company or worse still our job might be lost. At such times we wonder what we will do and what the future will hold. Families experience many difficult challenges. Some people are asked to walk the road of ill-health with a spouse, child, sister, brother, or another relative. Tough love may be required in our relationship with one who suffers from addiction. Many people must suffer the pain of observing a loved one reject God and the church and opt for the things of the world.
All of us will one day face the death of one close to us. The church will also bring us challenges. We pray fervently to God for our needs, yet our prayers are not answered in the way or time that we want; we might even feel God has abandoned us. Sometimes we lose sight of the road; we move off the track or even reverse course in our journey to God.
We will experience difficult times in our lives, with our jobs, our families, and the church, challenges that may seem to be impossible missions. But if we, like Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and Jesus, can persevere and continue on the road, then God will recognize and reward our efforts. The task will not be easy; the road to God has pitfalls and obstacles. Saint Paul advised his friend, Timothy, of this reality, "Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:8). But he also assured him, "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2:11-12).
We must constantly reevaluate our lives and renew our determination to walk the journey of life, which one day will lead to union with God. It will not be an easy journey, if taken seriously, but it is the only path that will one day lead to eternal life. Let us, therefore, walk the road; let us take on what seems to be mission impossible. Certainly the parents of Nicholas Green had no desire to walk the road that came their way, but they realized their son could give new life to so many and thus, despite their grief, made a courageous decision. In a similar way, God will strengthen us, reward our efforts, and use us to complete his work on earth. Let us follow the lead of Jesus. If we can, our reward in heaven will be great. Amen.
