6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Fr. Simham)

by | Feb 22, 2022

“If the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain”  1Cor 15:16

In today’s second reading  Corinthian Christians have not denied Christ’s resurrection but they have denied only the resurrection of believers. They might be influenced either by Greek philosophy or by the thinking of the Sadducees who say that there is no resurrection. To them Paul says that the resurrection is not merely life after death; it is the continuation of life after death in glorified bodies, which are our present bodies in a glorified state. Paul explains how the resurrection of Jesus not only proves His own resurrection, but it proves the principle of resurrection. So Christ’s resurrection and the resurrection of those who have faith in Christ are inextricably tied together.

If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is in vain:

 Let us think in this way?:

  • If there is no principle of resurrection, then Jesus did not rise from the dead.
  • If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then death has power over Him and defeated Him.
  • If death has power over Jesus, He is not God.
  • If Jesus is not God, He cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins.
  • If Jesus cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins, our sins are not completely paid for before God.
  • If my sins are not completely paid for before God, then I am still in my sin.
  • Therefore, if Jesus is not risen, He is unable to save.

To all the above questions Paul gives answers in today’s second reading

Paul points out that, “there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised” (I Corinthians 15:23). He further states, “Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will never die. Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power. They are natural human bodies now, but when they are raised, they will be spiritual bodies” (I Corinthians 15:42-44).

So, The Resurrection of Christ is the central the doctrine of Christianity and it is based on the belief that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion and that through his conquering of death all believers will subsequently share in his victory over “sin, death, and the Devil.” 

When we were baptized in Christ Jesus we were baptized in his death. In other words, when we were baptized we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life. In every Mass we remember that we share in Jesus’ death and resurrection, for example “We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.” “When we eat this bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.”  Amen.

Fr. Showreelu Simham