Resurrection Spiritual Transformation

Resurrection Spiritual Transformation

The proof that God raised Jesus from the dead is not the empty tomb, but the full hearts of his transformed disciples. The crowning evidence that he lives is not a vacant grave, but a spirit-filled fellowship. Not a rolled-away stone, but a carried-away church.                                                                                                                                                                                Clarence Jordan, Baptist Theologian
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Easter is the high holy season in which we are dramatically reminded of that which we are called to live every day. Our liturgy, hymns, prayers, and psalms are focused on Christ’s resurrection to lift and empower us to new life in Christ. While the liturgy is beautiful and the season wonderful, it is nothing if not for our own transformation. 

Our spiritual transformation cannot be separated from Christ’s resurrection; in fact, it is central to it. In order to transcend our current spiritual condition, we must embrace resurrection and our central inspiration and goal. Peter Rollins, author and philosopher, names some actions as central to a resurrection spiritual focus, and others not.

I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.

However, there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.

Embracing Christ’s resurrection can bring with it many opportunities to serve – help at a food kitchen, volunteer at MCEF, organize a food drive – but more and better that these would be a spiritual awakening. A spiritual awakening can begin from many starting places but always requires the honest desire to know God. Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Footnote to Howl” invites us to a celebratory, life-affirming, visceral embrace of holiness in all things. I offer you a portion of his poem. Take time reading, and perhaps it may be the starting place you are looking for.        

Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy!
The world is holy! The soul is holy! The skin is holy! The nose is holy! The tongue and cock and hand and asshole holy!
Everything is holy! everybody’s holy! everywhere is holy! everyday is in eternity! Everyman’s an angel!
The bum’s as holy as the seraphim! the madman is holy as you my soul are holy!
The typewriter is holy the poem is holy the voice is holy the hearers are holy the ecstasy is holy!
Holy the unknown and suffering beggars holy the hideous human angels!
Holy time in eternity holy eternity in time
Holy the sea holy the desert holy the railroad holy the locomotive holy the visions holy the miracles holy the eyeball holy the abyss!
Holy forgiveness! mercy! charity! faith! Holy! Ours! bodies! suffering! magnanimity!
Holy the supernatural extra brilliant intelligent kindness of the soul!
                                                                                     Berkeley 1955
                                                                                     from Collected Poems: 1947-1997  by Allen Ginsberg.

May your spiritual awakening begin for the rest of your life. May you open your whole self — heart, soul, mind, and strength — to God’s inspiring call to new life and renewed love. May you feel God luring you, prompting you, and encouraging you — each day and in each new present moment — to practice resurrection.

Resurrected in Him,
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Fr. Bill†