[Sundaycommunity] The Tomb is Empty -- sharing my reflection for Easter Sunday 2023

[Arthur Blomme]

Happy Easter Friends and co-conspirators

I am living a contemplative life here in Chemainus with lots of hard 
work getting back to Eden, partnering with creation to create a food 
forest(regenerative agriculture).  A highlight of my life is sharing my 
theological reflections. As the abundance of nature once again begins to 
rebirth I would like to share with you my reflection on the resurrection.

Thank you all for continuing to be in my life.

Art Blomme



    The Tombis Empty

In this Easter Sunday's reading from the Gospel of John the disciples 
discover the tomb of Jesus to be empty.

Richard Rohr's latest book, _The Universal Christ_, has facilitated my 
understanding of the resurrection according to John's Gospel. "/Christ 
is not Jesus's last name,"/ says Rohr.

John's Gospel identifies the Universal Christ with several "I am..." 
statements. My favorite is "I am the way the truth and the light."  I 
find it very enlightening to reflect on the Universal Christ as truth, 
as light and as the way.

In Chapter 11 of John's Gospel the Christ say's ”I am the resurrection 
and the life." If the universal Christ is the resurrection then, I ask: 
What is the resurrection?

Some contemporary thinkers see resurrection along the lines of 
transcendence. Transcendence is the act of rising above something to a 
superior state.

According to Teilard de Chardin evolution happens in leaps. When  a 
stage of creation reaches the boundaries of its development a new stage 
springs forth that transcends and overcomes the boundaries and 
limitations of the previous stage. On a macro scale Chardin saw the 
evolution of Earth proceeding through three levels. Each successive 
level transcends and includes the previous level. Evolving from:

 1. the geosphere(made up of all the planetary matter and evolving
    chemical processes),
 2. to the biosphere(the interconnected web of plants and animals and
    their  biological processes)
 3. to the noosphere which is the sphere of thought, culture and
    communication

Human consciousness and creativity are especially characterized by this 
transcendence. When limitations emerge that block human growth, 
consciousness and creativity can transcend those boundaries to create a 
new state that overcomes the limitations of the previous state. Today 
with the internet we have the facility to communicate knowledge and 
thought across the globe.  Chardin's vision of the noosphere is a 
reality today. The limitations to communication imposed by distance have 
been overcome enabling instantaneous communication to every corner in 
the world.  When human creativity meets formidable barriers, human 
creativity seems to transcend those barriers.

One of the great perceived  barriers to our individual growth is our 
inevitable death. Even Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemene to have 
the cup of his death taken away from him. At the moment of his death  he 
despairs “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Facing our death 
is difficult.In the end Jesus chooses to accept his fate. By embracing 
death Jesus transcends death.  He is resurrected.  He is one with Christ 
and Christ is the resurrection.  As St. Paul says "Death has lost its 
sting". The Tomb is empty.

*Prologue:* For me this view of the resurrection only makes sense when 
we heed the words of St. Paul: "Jesus is the first of many 
brothers(siblings)." We share in the resurrection when we too become one 
in Christ.

Biblical scholar N.T. Wright in his book "God and the Pandemic" talks 
about how  the Judeo-Christian tradition has historically related to 
pandemics.  Notable to him is the courage found in Christian communities 
as they fearlessly engaged in the reality of suffering from the plagues 
of the past, treating the sick, comforting the bible and creating 
hospitals and health awareness. Christian communities creatively 
transcended the limitations of the plague.  Fear of death incapacitates 
our ability to creatively respond to the object of our fear.  It 
prevents us from transcending the reality of our suffering. If "death 
has lost its sting" we can engage courageously and transcend our 
tribulations. As Einstein says, We cannot solve a problem at the same 
level in which the problem was created.Resurrected in Christ we are not 
paralyzed by fear.

Art Blomme, April 6 2023

*Arthur Blomme*
Mobile: 647-719-7779
10351 Chemainus Rd
Chemainus, BC V0R 1K2
Email: art at integralshift.ca <mailto:art at integralshift.ca>
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