Resurrection Faith

I could hear my son, Raham, sobbing in the next room. We were burying his grandfather Liberto that day. I couldn’t think of anything to say to ease his grief, perhaps because I was devastated myself. Dad had been suffering from major depression—hormonal imbalance, the doctor said. I could not accept that Dad had spent the last days of his life battling depression. He had devoted his life to working with indigenous tribes, sharing the gospel in word and deed. I could not help but ask, ‘Is this what happens when you have faith?’

Later as I embraced my son, I sensed God saying to me, ‘I know it seems that your world has collapsed. But in death, as in life, your dad is mine. I hold him in my hand. I will never let him go, just as I have never let you go.’

At the funeral, I read these words: ‘Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restored our life. Christ will come again in glory. As in baptism Liberto put on Christ, so in Christ may Liberto be clothed with glory.’ Joy welled up in my heart through my tears. I knew Dad was alive and well in the bosom of God. My faith had been restored.

Prayer: God of grace and glory, when we are grieving, help us to remember your promise of eternal life. Amen