The Resurrection of the Body

Homily for Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

St. Paul’s statement about the resurrection of the body reveals that some in the Corinthian community have expressed a lack of faith in this fundamental tenet of the Christian faith. However, this is not a denial of eternal life. Early in the history of the Church, certain elements had come to the conclusion that eternal life had to be more spiritual than material. In no way could this gross human body have a part in life with God. For many thinkers the world over it has always been – and still is – difficult to imagine that somehow this heavy and recalcitrant body will have any share in eternal life.

This particular heresy, known as Gnosticism gave rise to Albigensianism and Catharism. Such thinking has arisen several times in the history of the church and was prevalent even at the time of St. Francis of Assisi. These people would rather conceive of eternal life as a liberation from material things including the body.

Yet the goodness of matter and of the body is a central belief of Christianity, one founded in the Book of Genesis and in the resurrection of Jesus. The body, matter, is the good partner of the spirit in all that it does of good here on earth. It deserves to share the reward of eternal life. The body, matter, this whole earthly environment of ours deserves respect and care as partners and coheirs with the spirit.

May the Lord help us not to discount the value of anything you have made, including our bodies.