A Bare Kernel

~~~ 1 Cor 15: 35-37, 42-49 ~~~ Psalm 56 ~~~ Luke 8: 4-15 ~~~

 

 

The gospel today is the familiar paarable of the seeds..

...some seeds fell on the path and were trampled...

...some seeds fell on rocky ground it withered for lack of moisture...

...some fell among thorns and were choked...

 

Jesus goes on to explain the meaning if the seeds.

You are probably well aware of the interpretation of this gospel.

 

With that being said I want to draw your attention to Paul's letter to the Corinthians.

If you follow my writings you know how inspiring I find his words to be for me.

 

 

"...What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies.
And what you sow is not the body that is to be
but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind.

So also is the resurrection of the dead.
It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible.
It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious.
It is sown weak; it is raised powerful.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one..."

 

This passage was not familiar to me.

 I do not beleive it is part of the Sunday readings.

 

We are first of all spiritual beings.

Paul confirms here that if we have a natural body

we also have a spiritual one.

 

The green leaves, the flowers, and the fruit cannot be seen

within the bare little seed.

So it is with us.

We look into the mirror and only see the seed...the kernel of wheat.

Hidden within is our own spiritual body.

 

Our spirit it what will live on for all eternity.

Our spirit will not need the bodily 'seed covering or kernel'.

When the plant bursts forth from the seed, it is no longer needed.

It has served its purpose.

When we die our spiritual self contained within, will be set free.

 

In our resurrection the coruptible body will no longer be useful.

Without our cumbersome body we too will be glorious as we share

in the resurrection with our spirit.

Unless we die we cannot fully realize our true spiritual self.

Just as the dying of the seed gives way to the young tender leaf sprouts.

The death of the seed also brings forth beautiful blossoms

which later become the juicy fruit.

 

 

 

Dying is not the end of life.

Dying is more likely the transition.

Dying is more likelt the answer to the longing we have inside our soul.

Perhaps the soul is fully aware of this spiritual essence

and has been from our very conception.

 

So rather than fear dying we should rejoice at what lies beyond

human earthly bodies.

Our bodies are only the physical covering of something

incorruptible and glorious.

The resurrection of our body will be the release of our spiritual self.

 

I invite you to take some time today and reflect on Paul's words.

Are we just flesh and blood seed pods?