Tomorrow Christians are celebrating the feast of Resurrection. Life after death is acknowledged by religions. Life’s journey is not but a short period of time that, no matter how long it is, cannot be compared to the everlasting eternity. Thus, resurrection turned to be an extension of man’s life on earth whose eventual outcome is not death. Death is rather turned to be a passage through earth to heaven. Resurrection has a wide significance. It makes our life valuable and let hope prevail over it.
We can learn the significance of life out of resurrection. All of us would stand before God on the Day of Judgment and hold accountable for our actions. Thus, a wise man would put in his mind the outcome of all his decisions and thus eternal life becomes part and parcel of his current one that affects his decisions and actions and helps him to adjust them.
Resurrection helps man to consider the hereafter and connect it with his current life. Man would no more lives in selfishness but rather he turns into a philanthropist. Here resurrection takes on a new mission and turns to be a motive for humans to work honestly. A wise person once said, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.”
Resurrection illuminates man’s life with hope that his ordeals and afflictions would not be his final fate, but the best is yet to come.
There was a lady who was suffering from a severe illness and the doctors told her that her life is about to end. Thus, she tried to get ready for that day. She asked to be buried with a fork in her hand! When she was asked about the reason of her request; she told them that she recalled at all the social events that she attended that people were asked to hold their fork up when they finish their basic meal and she liked to do that as it means the best is yet to come; an apple pie or chocolate mousse. So she wanted people to see her holding the fork and wonder about that so they know that the best is yet to come; eternal life.
This story is so simple, yet deep ; as it reflects the lady’s vision about eternal life in which we will face no trouble anymore; but rather it gives us hope to cling to in our current life.
Many happy returns, May God grant us joy, peace; keep Egypt safe and sound as well.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
