This I declare, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. 54 And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Paul declares that our earthly, mortal, corruptible flesh and blood existence is incompatible with the incorruptible and eternal kingdom of God. He spoke of a previously hidden divine truth, a mystery that is now revealed through Christ. Not all believers will physically die, but all believers will be miraculously changed at the coming of the Lord. The transformation will be sudden at the climax of God’s redemptive plan when the Lord returns. At the Parousia, the dead will be resurrected in Christ to a new imperishable life. Paul frequently refers to the Parousia in his letters and describes it as the moment when Christ will descend from heaven with a shout, accompanied by the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, to gather his elect (1 Thess. 4:14-17). There will be the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, the renewal of creation, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. God will fulfill his promise to humanity (Gen. 3:15; Jn. 11:25-26).
Through his death and resurrection, Christ destroyed death forever (Is. 25:8). Death no longer has power over humanity and is no longer an adversary to be feared (Hos. 13:14). Death entered the world as a punishment for sin and the Mosaic Law exposed man’s sinfulness but could not provide salvation or deliverance from sin. It is only through Christ that believers can overcome sin and death and experience the fullness of eternal life. Paul encourages believers to remain steadfast and devoted to the work of the Lord with the knowledge that their future life in heaven with Christ is secure.
Almighty ever-living God, you promised believers victory and transformation through the death and resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. May we be steadfast and unwavering in our commitment to the Gospel, trusting that our work in the Lord will never be in vain. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen! Alleluia!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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