At the end of the Nicene Creed, which we profess during all of our weekend Masses, we proclaim, “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses the resurrection of the dead, which many Corinthians have trouble believing. In a very well crafted argument, Paul claims that this does not make sense. For Paul, Christ’s resurrection is without a doubt the proof of the resurrection of all of us. Christ’s resurrection is at the foundation of our faith. The resurrection of Christ is claimed by Paul and the apostles as the first-fruits, not only heralding the resurrection of all Christians, but the cause of our resurrection as well. It was a custom of the ancient Jews to offer the first sheaf of the harvest to God in acknowledgment of the whole harvest as a gift from God, a gift to be used by his people in love and service. In this spirit, Christ can be seen as the first sheaf of the great harvest in which God gathers us into eternal life to be with him forever. May we pray for the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life, that they be included in the great harvest of the Lord.
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