Quote for Reflection (Sunday, April 27, 2025)

“First, then, resurrection is a mighty act of God. Remember that in the New Testament the language used is not of Jesus rising but of Jesus being raised by God. Jesus did not “achieve” resurrection. Rather did he make himself nought, and when all was dark, when human possibilities were exhausted. God raised him by a mighty act of his power. This truth about resurrection colors the whole process of our movements towards our goal, whether in this world or the next. It is not that humanity, even under God’s grace, gets gradually better and better and so attains to saintliness here and to heaven thereafter. Rather does the grace of God work surprises, turning defeats into deliverances, “calling things that are nought as though they are,” and acting beyond any laws of progress or expectation. We have no rights here, and no rights hereafter. Unprofitable servants at every stage, we know that the Christian life has always the two facets: on the one side there is God who raises the dead and on the other side there is “faith alone”.

“To Believe is to Pray, Readings from Michael Ramsey, James E. Griffiss”