Resurrection - The God who colours us in!

In her book The Risen Existence, Paula Gooder, who among other things is Theologian in Residence at Bible Society, tells us the story of her daughter asking a question one day at tea; it’s rather a good and perceptive one for the child of a theologian – ‘How does Jesus make us real?’  And like all good teachers Paula Gooder suggested her daughter make a stab at answering it herself.  So the little girl said: ‘I think he draws us and then colours us in’!!

The mother thought this was a brilliant way of describing our Resurrection Life.  Jesus draws us – re-configures us, if you like.  And then throughout our lives, in all the experiences which come our way, it’s as if we are being coloured in.  Jesus doesn’t leave us in greyscale, but fills our life with his resurrection presence – with the vibrant colours of life.

This ‘transformative’ colouring in is for us ad for the whole created order.  So this is how Dr Gooder, a PhD from Oxford yet still learning from her daughter around the tea table, ends her book on the resurrection:  If we are in Christ we are called to become life-givers, life-breathers, life-makers.  We become people who bear resurrection with us wherever we go.

Today, on this Easter Day 2016, let us celebrate that the life of Jesus can continue through our hands and feet, and let’s live that life colourfully and to the glory of God.

Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed - Alleluia!

With my best wishes,

Ian
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