Central Florida Episcopalian Magazine - Easter 2024

Proclaiming Christ's ResUITection

Living Into the New Life

BY THE REV. STEPHANIE SOPER

AswecelebrateEastertideandmoveintothereadings oftheActsoftheApostles,werecognizeandreflecton akeytheme:theproclamationoftheresurrectionof Jesus asthefaithfulnessand power ofGodtoallpeople,which hebringsaboutsothathumansmightbeunified,tohimand oneanother,inthepoweroftheHolySpirit.Actsisfilledwith miraculoushealings(see3:16,9:34),buttheoverarchingmessage ofthegospelisthatJesusChristhealsusnotjustphysicallyand emotionally,butspirituallyandrelationally-withGodandwith oneanother.

IntherecordingofJesus'continuedmissionactedoutthrough theapostles,itisimportanttoknowwhywecallthem"apostles."ThistitlecomesfromtheGreekwordfordispatchinga personormessageforaspecific achievement, which isexactlytheroleofJesus'apostles.Hesends themouttosharehismessageoflove andredemption,achievedforusin hisresurrection.

Thenovel"TheFaultinOur Stars"isaboutteenagerslivingwithterminaldiagnoses.Itbeautifullynarrates theheartbreakingtrials andemotionaldepths theseteensface,knowing avery present enemy is lurkingatthedoor.That iswhat living without Christ islike- without theResurrection,weare livingwithaterminal diagnosis,oneofbondagetothesicknessofsin andtheultimateenemy ofdeath.

WhenIimagineapersondyingwithoutJesus - shufflingaroundin thedark, chained toan oxygentank,wasting away-Iamhumbled

The first witness, Mary Magdalene, in the garden withJesus, detail of a mosaic designed by Rowan and Irene Lecompte in theWashington National Cathedral's Resurrection Chapel, Washington D.C.

tothecore,desperateforlife.AspeopleoftheResurrection,we havethegiftoflife!Wehavethegoodnewsofsalvationforus andfortheworld.

WhatdopeopleoftheResurrectionlooklike?AsIreflect,Iam oftenconvictedaboutmyinabilitytoshowChristtoanyonein myownstrengthandvolition.InthebookofActs,although therewereindividualswhopointedotherstoJesus(e.g.,Philip, Stephen,Saul),thetaskwasmoreoftenaccomplishedbygroups ofbelieversworkingtogether.

Thoughmyownlifemaynotnecessarilycompeloutsidersto believeinthepowerofJesus,theloveofmychurchfamilyhas drawnincredulityfromonlookers.AspeopleoftheResurrection,whenweliveintothenewlifetowhichwearecalled(see Rom.6:4),weloveoneanother,wartsandall.That lovedrawsothersintoadesiretoknow theTriuneGod.Thesacrificiallove oftheFather,SonandHolySpirit bothempowerstheResurrectionandallowsustolive inlovingcommunitythat attractsothers.

InActs3:6a, Petertells thelameman,"Ihave nosilverorgold,but whatIdohave, Igive toyou.''Actsshowsus thatanyonecanreceivefaithinChrist andtheempowering oftheHolySpirit. Ourjobistoshare thatfaith,proclaimingwhatGodhas done,thereby giving themtheopportunityto receive it fromhim.

The Rev. Stephanie Soper serves as a deacon at Church of the Ascension, Orlando. Married with two sons, she is working on a Master of Divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando.