A reading from Paul's first
letter to the Corinthians:
When you plant a seed in the ground, it does not sprout to life unless
it dies.
And what you plant in the ground is a bare seed, perhaps a grain of
wheat, or of some other kind,not the full-bodied plant that will grow
up.
God provides that seed with the body he wishes; he gives each seed
its own proper body.
This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life.
When the body is buried it is mortal; when raised, it will be
immortal.
When buried, it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautitul
and strong.
When buried, it is a physical body; when raised, it will be a spiritual
body.
Listen to this secret: we shall not. die
but in an instant we shall all be changed,
As quickly as the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet
sounds.
For when it sounds, the dead will be raised immortal beings, and we
shall all be changed.
For what is mortal must clothe itself with what is immortal;
What will die must clothe itself with what cannot die,
Then the scripture will come true: "Death is destroyed;
victory is complete!"
WHERE, DEATH, IS YOUR VICTORY?
WHERE, DEATH, IS YOUR POWER TO HURT?"
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Death
by John Donne
Death, be not proud,
though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so:
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death; nor yet canst thou kill her,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow;
And soonest our best men (and women) with thee do go---
Rest of their bones and souls' delivery!
Thou'rt slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke. Why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And Death shall be no more. Death, thou shalt die!
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