Death, Where Is Thy Sting?

FROM the EDITORS:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Opinions expressed on the Insight Scoop weblog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Ignatius Press. Links on this weblog to articles do not necessarily imply agreement by the author or by Ignatius Press with the contents of the articles. Links are provided to foster discussion of important issues. Readers should make their own evaluations of the contents of such articles.

NEW & UPCOMING, available from IGNATIUS PRESS

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Death, Where Is Thy Sting?

Death, Where Is Thy Sting? | Adrienne von Speyr | From The Mystery of Death

Death will retain its penal aspect until the end of the world. In death's mirror man recognizes how perverse and sinful he is. But in this whole dimension of punishment, he should also see the Father's solicitous care for man. The same Father who, as Creator and Lord of the Old Covenant, appointed death, also permits death under the New Covenant. God does not surrender his rights as Creator and Owner; this explains all the measures he takes in dealing with man. The sting of death is that it is a punishment.

But just as our being sinners is transformed by the Son's coming, so death's penal aspect is also transformed. From the moment the Son surrenders himself for us, not only humanity as a whole, but each individual with his whole destiny and death is personally contained in the Son's sacrifice.