Don't you hate it

when you get a totally interesting thought in the middle of a sermon and are not sure what to do with it? This morning our Gospel was Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19ff). But as I was preaching this text, it hit me clear as could be how utterly individualistically I tend to think about death. Death as the death of ME, or of this or that person. But death is bigger than that. Much bigger. Because what dies when a member of the human family dies is a whole complex of relationships into which that person has been placed. Death truly tears apart what God has joined together. The very nature of grief should have told me that a long time ago, but it didn't sink into my consciousness. I mean, I knew it in an intellectual way. Donne and "for whom the bell tolls" but I don't think I ever saw it the way I should have until this morning. And that is why our Lord's resurrection was not alone, but with many others according to St. Matthew. Death's destruction is for the Christian not confined to the confession that the flesh will be raised. It means also that the complex of relationships into which we have been brought in the Holy Church are really and truly forever - God has given us a home in the full sense of that word which can never ever be lost - brothers and sisters whom we will enjoy for all eternity. So, since I didn't get to say all this in this morning's sermon, I wanted to share it now. : )