Sourthern Coast, Otago

Last night I came home exhausted. In part this was because I was walking after a term of ferrying children, and have realized just unfit I have been. In part it is the clinical work (I am doing twice as much as usual). In part it is concern about my family. I am aware that the economic situation is not stable
and that the feminist and racist politics of personality are dominating discussion in the US while their economy slips closer to the Slough of European Despond.

(Yes, Lewis Farrakan is blaspheming. However, he is also an idiot: what he is saying is letting people see precisely what a pile of odure his Black Muslim ideology is. The one good thing about not having laws of blasphemy is that this is exposed)

However, life goes on. We have duties and concerns in this life. But this life is not all that there is.

Luke 24:1-12

1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Only a couple of comments.

1. The women were terrified. This is the usual response to seeing the unveiled glory, or seeing things close to the unveiled glory of God. Moses was terrified. The apostles were terrified at the transfiguration. The resurrection is bigger than both.

2. The women had come to do their duty and give honour by caring for Jesus Body. They were the first to be told of his resurrection. Women have a place in the church. Now, at the risk of Trad Con syndrome we need to say that women do have a place of authority. Over their children. In the home. It is the duty of men, fathers, to lead the family, discuss issues such as discipline and back up the mother on these issues. Particularly if she is doing the heavy lifting — the bulk of the child care — at home.

3. However, the words that were said to the women were those of correction. You should have known he would rise. Now go find the leadership. Tell them. The women were not the leadership: Peter and the apostles were.

This leads to our hope. As Paul says.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

51Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55″Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Most men work best with a fair amount of competition and cooperation. Male study groups “Rat packs” have a huge amount of trash talk, piling on, and competition as to who has learnt this the best, who has the best marks. This is needed to get young men into competative courses: I am encouraging both sons to form such groups while at high school.

The same thing applies in the Kirk. It is not our job, as men, to see women or the clergy as plaster saints, who we cannot touch, nor correct. It is our job to be the rock. To not move, to compete with each other to do better in glorifying God.