Living Lord

Archaeology studies the past by examining the relics and ruins that remain. Archaeologists dig up items they use to piece together the history of peoples, places, and events all over the world. Numerous journals report their findings, and professional societies underwrite the work of the countless laborers, technicians, and scholars.

The impact of such endeavors overwhelms us. We marvel at the effort, cost, skill, and value in the discoveries. But we sense also the futility of material living as a final form of existence. Grand buildings lie in rubble under dirt and overgrowth. Countless skeletons show how temporary the best of physical things is.

A contrast becomes evident when we set the findings of archaeology alongside the empty tomb of Jesus. He had died on a cross in the interest of overcoming human alienation and providing salvation from sin as a basis for personal reconciliation. He vouchsafed eternal promises to us in the spiritual matters that occupy our attention at this table. It takes so much more to deal with the intangibles of life, but they loom as much more important than the body he gave and the graves clothes he left behind.

These emblems say that friendship with God and each other has more value along the way and in the eternal prospects the Lord resurrected to and ascended into. In this rite we follow in his train into that future.