II Corinthians 4:1-18
In the years following my born-again experience I began to look back at the Catholic faith in which I was raised and how it was continuing to affect me in my new life. One item that I came to realize was (what I perceived to be) a very strong emphasis on Jesus’ death with a lesser focus on His resurrection. I remember Lent, the Stations of the Cross, and Good Friday as major imprints on my life. Even today, as it was back then, it seems like every Catholic home has a crucifix (not a cross) or the Sacred Heart (or both) displayed. Again, to me, there seemed to be a much smaller spiritual focus on Easter Sunday and Jesus’ resurrection. For me, Easter, like Christmas was as much a secular holiday as it was a spiritual celebration.
I thought about all this as I read through verses 10-12 this morning: …always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Yes, each “death” item in these verses is followed by a “life” item, but that life item seems so much a dependent clause with respect to the death mention that precedes it. I’m probably making too much of this, but I grew up with Jesus’ death, His suffering and crucifixion and it stays with me today. And that’s not a bad thing, to remember Jesus’ suffering on our behalf. It makes my love for Him that much stronger!!
See also: May 25 / II Cor. 4:1-18