Death: A Vanquished Enemy

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Tuesday of Easter Week

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

24Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘All things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. 28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.

You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 959)

AM Psalm 103; PM Psalm 111, 114

Exod. 12:28-39; 1 Cor. 15:12-28; Mark 16:9-20

David’s Reflections

I once heard an uneducated elderly Baptist minister say, “I’ve never seen death bring joy.”  He was speaking at a funeral I attended.  That statement, “I’ve never seen death bring joy,” echoed in my mind for days.  The line in verse 26 of today’s epistle came to mind, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Death as enemy—I have experienced the deaths of many people in ministry.  Some were as young as preschoolers and some were over 100.  Every person who could see death approach through illness struggled against it and feared it. Often, when suffering proved unbearable, they anticipated death with both relief and dread. In spite of their faith, facing  the unknown stretched them.  Death cut short many of their lives and separated them from people they loved and wanted to continue with.

I stood beside my beloved younger brother, John, as he died December 10, 2020 of pancreatic cancer. I stroked his cheeks and his wavy hair and told him I loved him and that he was still prettier than I. My finger felt his pulse fading in his carotid artery as he gradually eased away from us. Death felt like an enemy that day.

I think of my two children,Ben and Katie, ages 46 and 43, and my grandsons, Lyra, Jonas, and Will, ages 16, 14, and 11; I feel anxious that I might die prematurely, leaving them without my love and care as their lives unfold.  My children and grandchildren are limitless sources of joy and encouragement, and I want to continue experiencing them and sharing in their journeys.  Death certainly seems an interrupting enemy to me.

According to today’s epistle, death may be an enemy but it has been vanquished; it is a conquered enemy.  Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead because death could not prevail against that innocent life so totally suffused with God’s own life and love.  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection met sin and death on its own ground, human existence, and prevailed against it.

By faith in Christ, we share in Christ’s victory over death;  his resurrection becomes ours.  In the vision of his victory over the grave, we see the vision of our own future.  We may well dread the experience of dying and fear the unknown of passing from this life to the next;  however, we do not have to fear what lies on the other side of death.  Jesus awaits us there.  The bond of love between our Savior and us cannot be broken, even by death itself.  One of Paul’s main points in 1 Corinthians 15 is that our resurrection is on the order of Jesus’.

Those we love but see no longer who died in hope of the resurrection also share that living bond with Christ.  We are united with them through our shared union with Christ.  “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”  What courage for living a committed and hopeful life you and I can find in these words. We pray for our beloved on the other side as an expression of our shared oneness with Christ. “Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 504)

As Mary Oliver put it in one of her poems:

From "Sometimes"

I don’t know what God is.

I don’t know what death is.

But I believe they have between them

    some fervent and necessary arrangement.*

*Mary Oliver, Red Bird  (Boston:  Beacon, 2008), pp. 35-38

Collect of the Day, Easter Day

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 222.)

Tuesday in Easter Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 223)

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (BCP, 99)

All the Good I Can

Dear God, guide me to

Do all the good I can

By all means I can

In all ways I can

In all places I can

To all people I can

As long as I can.

Bill Pittman and Lisa D., The 12 Step Prayer Book Volume 2:  More Twelve Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings Prayers  (Center City, MN:  Hazelden, 2007.)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen.  (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Epistle, 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 21For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; 22for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘All things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. 28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.

Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer