Opening Prayer
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP 223)
TEXT
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 NRSV
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.
READ
It may seem in our disorderly and disfigured world that God has lost control, turned his back, or disengaged. When evil runs rampant, and we’re left with no explanation for the terrible sufferings we encounter, it is difficult to choose Life. But what choice do we have? Death? In choosing Life, we place our trust in the final victory when, at last, every knee will bow. For now God invites you and me to carry His banner, a banner that reads: Our God Reigns!
-Cheri Cowell