Resurrection Is the Pattern of the Universe

The paschal mystery, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, is the revelation of the universal pattern of things, claims Richard Rohr; he summarises it this way: order > disorder > reorder (life > death > resurrection). God did not just resurrect Jesus to prove a point; rather, the resurrection of Jesus makes visible to the eyes of the disciples and to all of us what God is always doing everywhere. Death is not the opposite of life; it is a necessary part of the transition into a deeper, transformed life. Every time a seed breaks open to become a tree, or a human ego suffers a blow only to find deeper humility—it is the resurrection pattern at work.

When we view the resurrection through Richard Rohr’s lens, it shifts from being a distant historical doctrine or reality in the past, 2000 years ago (about Jesus) or a distant reality or possibility in the future (for us). Resurrection is the central blueprint of the cosmos—then our spiritual job is to participate in it. This will change how we process human suffering.

If resurrection reveals the universal pattern of reality, if resurrection is the shape of the universe, we are invited to participate in the resurrection now by letting go of our false selves, embracing the necessary ‘deaths’ in our lives, and trusting the new life that follows. We are invited to let go the order that we have established, die to it and arrive at a new order (reorder) of things.

Rohr’s view of the Paschal mystery suggests that the falling apart of our lives is not the end of the story, nor is it an accident. It is the necessary, agonizing incubator for the ‘reorder’ that follows. You cannot reach the resurrection without passing through the tomb. Unless a grain of seed falls into the earth and dies it cannot bear much fruit. Unless a vine goes through cutting and pruning it will not bear much fruit. Resurrection transforms life into something more expansive, compassionate, and enduring.

The entire universe is shimmering with the possibility of resurrection, with the endless possibility of dying and being reborn into greater selves. At times we are so short sighted and adamant like Judas, we don't have hope in the process, we don't trust the process, thus we end the process and quit abruptly, we sabotage the process. I always think that if Judas had lived on he would, in the fullness of time, experienced change and transformation. Life takes time; we can’t force a chick out of an egg. Hang on there long enough, and be ready to let go when we ought to.

Love is continuous, it does not die, truth is continuous, it does not die, goodness is continuous, it does not die; we falsely believe that we have the power to kill it, bury it. The establishment and religious authorities thought that they have killed Jesus, and buried it—no, not for a second. Jesus interestingly tells Mary Magdalene, ‘tell my brothers that I will meet you in Galilee’. Wow. Who is dead? Who is buried? One of the preface for the mass for the dead it is said, “indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed, not ended.”

We can only pretend to kill love, to kill truth, it does not die. Perhaps even the establishment and religious leaders knew it. Author and preacher, bishop Fulton J Sheen points out that the enemies of Jesus kept guards at the tomb of Jesus, lest the dead man walk—perhaps they believed in the resurrection. In Matthew 10: 28 Jesus had promoted us not to fear those who can only kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

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