Living and Dying: Both Are All Too Real Sometimes
Rev. George M. Rossi
March 31,
2015
Galatians 1:18b-26: Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I
know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect
and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so
that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by
death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on
living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I
choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be
with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I
remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will
continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that
through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on
account of me.
The Apostle Paul declares in verse 1:21, “For to me, to
live is Christ and to die is gain.” I am not ready to die. Most if not all are
not ready. Yet, we live in that very lightly veiled world between life and
death. Today I am choosing life. I choose life because I have a purpose, a
mission of service to God and humanity and the will to see what the good future
holds. Easter week is about death and then life. Jesus dies on the
cross—literally. I had a seminary professor who used to say that physical, real
death must happen before resurrection can occur. I know that there are things
in life that are better left undone or omitted. Even better yet some things
need to be expelled and expunged from the soul and the heart and the mind. That
is God’s work. So, this week, I propose that life and death are very present
and real. There are values and beliefs and actions that need a permanent
death. Yet, there are goals and visions and dreams that need life and energy.
We are living in the middle of God’s will. Paul said, “to live is Christ and to
die is gain.” Both are true but until God calls us home let’s seek life and God
while we have breath.
