Tonight we are gathering to read through 2 Corinthians 4. As you read through and meditate on this chapter, pay special attention to those two verses that cause us to look beyond the perishable to the imperishable, in the same manner that in chapter 3 Paul calls us to look beyond the dead letter to the living Spirit. In verse six, Paul recalls those first words of creation where God says “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3) whereby God gave us light to see creation. It was this light that Paul says caused the face of Moses’s face to shine for but a while (2 Cor. 3:7). But now, God himself has become this light in the Incarnation. And in the Incarnation, the face of Christ shines endlessly so that now we may see the Creator. Likewise, in verse 18, Paul reiterates that we must look beyond the literal and the sensible which are easily seen and comprehended but which are transient and perishable. Rather we must look for the spiritual which is unseen and ineffable but which is eternal. If you have time today, please re-read 1 Cor. 15:35-58 and see how Paul’s discussion there is reflected in the readings for this week.
Father Gabriel from St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church (Dana’s church) is leading our discussion this week. Dinner is at 6. The menu is chicken mole. Discussion about 6:45. Hope to see you here. Please bring a friend.
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44