Resurrection II ~ Preparation: 1 Corinthians 15:29-38, especially vs. 34:
"Awake to righteousness, and do not sin, for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak to your shame."
In verse Nineteen of Chapter Fifteen of First Corinthians, St. Paul fixes attention on the implications of the Resurrection for this present life. Resurrection enables the Faithful to resist the common reason for living: indulgence of the passions. The Lord's Resurrection, by opening the potential of a renewed, transformed body for those who are united to Christ, encourages risk-taking for higher goals, the use of this life to achieve virtue and to know God.
The Apostle uses the example of his own life to refute the opinion of anyone who would say "that there is no resurrection of the dead" (1 Cor. 15:12). He asks pointedly, "And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?" (1 Cor.15:30). He amplifies his point in today's reading by reference to an event well known to the Corinthians, which he describes as fighting "with beasts at Ephesus" (vs. 32). While his remark probably was not about an actual event of literal combat with beasts in the arena such as later martyrs experienced, we know that he had vicious opponents to his ministry (2 Cor. 11:23-26), and many occasions on which he did "die daily" (1 Cor. 15:31).
Here is his point: why would one go through daily jeopardy and take constant risks to comfort, life and limb if this present, temporary existence in a mortal body is the sole source of meaning for human life? Better would be the alternative: "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (vs. 32); that is, indulge the passions of the body! St. John of Damascus reveals the results of chasing madly after satisfaction of the passions: "The roots or primary causes of all these passions are love of sensual pleasure, love of praise, and love of material wealth. Every evil has its origin in these." While the world certainly promotes these, we have a better and uncommonly powerful reason to resist the flood of ads, appeals, examples, and suggestions to pursue the passions: Christ is risen!
There are higher goals to which our Lord, God and Savior calls us. His Apostle Paul invites us to break off companionship with sensuality, praise, and wealth by quoting from Menander, "Evil company corrupts good habits" (vs.33). The facts are that these evils and prolonged pleasurable association with those who indulge them will surely corrupt the good habits formed by the Spirit of God. Better to "Awake to righteousness and...not sin" (vs. 34), to develop God-pleasing virtues. Metropolitan Hierotheos names some of the virtues that are essential for transformation: "The pursuit of a life of love...unceasing prayer...calling on the Name of God...Yoking the powers of the soul with the virtues ... subordination to a spiritual father...self control...frugality...watchfulness... the words of God: application to them ... mourning, repentance and confession...the voluntary sufferings of asceticism or through involuntary trials."
Finally, as the Apostle suggests, the greatest potential, which the Resurrection creates, is the opportunity to know God. Striving for "knowledge of God" (vs. 34) creates that necessary, fertile, spiritual environment in which our present body, like a seed when planted, will come alive to Him, for "God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body" (vs. 38). The Apostle is not speaking of an "automatic" process, but growth in Christ. We have a part in preparing the seed of our body. The Native Americans knew that there were seeds of certain valuable plants that would not sprout unless they passed through fire, and for this reason, the people deliberately burned off tracts of land to germinate these seeds. As the Apostle states: "our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). Let us strive to know Him, to brave the searing flames of drawing close to Him, so that He may prepare us for "a body as He pleases" (1 Cor. 15:38).
Enlighten the eyes of my heart unto love unfeigned and unto growth in Thy divine grace.