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

[Sharon McCarthy]

Thanks Art!
Beautiful thoughtful reflection - so post as we go through life!
Happy Easter to you and Angie!

On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 7:50 PM Arthur Blomme via Sundaycommunity <
sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca> wrote:

> 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 Tomb is 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
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10351+Chemainus+Rd+%0D%0A++++Chemainus,+BC+V0R+1K2?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Chemainus, BC V0R 1K2
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/10351+Chemainus+Rd+%0D%0A++++Chemainus,+BC+V0R+1K2?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Email: art at integralshift.ca <art at integralshift.ca>
>
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