Easter - Quote, Unquote

 “The resurrection of Jesus is the ground of the Church’s being. It is the ground of every Christian’s hope. The present is not everything: there is a future, and the message of the Gospels and of Jesus is that in that future we will be safe. But the future is not everything either ... The resurrection people are not just those who align themselves to what the “dramatis personae” (character) in the Gospel traditions saw, they actually participate in the risen Christ, and in the new era, the future made present, which he embodies.” DAVID CATCHPOLE - Emeritus Professor of Theology, Exeter University  RESURRECTION PEOPLE

“God has given me that genuine righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. How changed are my ambitions! Now I long to know Christ and the power shown by his resurrection: now I long to share his sufferings, even to die as he died, so that I may perhaps attain as he did, the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11  

To “know Christ” is not just to know his Person but to be fully identified with the Way, the Vision of Christ, to think as he does.  For Paul, nothing could be more precious or worth having.  And to “gain Christ” is to become totally filled with Jesus’ way of seeing and doing things.

We so often sing 

May the mind of Christ my Saviour

Live in me from day to day

By his love and pow'r controlling 

All I do and say.

But the hymn also speaks of the indwelling of the word of God, God’s rule of peace, being filled with the gracious presence of Christ as we fix our gaze on Jesus. St Augustine put is succinctly when speaking of the resurrection he said “And he departed from our sight and we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here.“

Prayer

Risen Lord, thank You for Your resurrection power that You impart to us. This is beyond comprehension. Please cause the scales to fall from our eyes so that we might see Truth — this Truth — that the same power that raised You from the dead dwells in us because of the life giving Holy Spirit. You have made a way for us to rise from the ruins. Within us is Your power is at work transforming us from glory to glory into Your likeness. As we experience the resurrection power of forgiveness that breaks the chains keeping us bound help us to reflect your presence in us to others. Amen