"Young Man, I Tell You, Arise!"
By Alyce Anderson
A fresh start... Our society always seems to be longing for a “fresh start.” There’s a sense of pride and victory when we can commit to a new beginning. But why is it so difficult to remember that as Christians, by virtue of our baptism, we are called to a fresh start each day with Christ?
Our first reading today reminds us that we are members of the Body of Christ our baptism. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body… and we were all given to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The vocation we receive in baptism is not to lay dormant in our hearts; rather, it is a vocation that we should choose to live out each day. When we choose to intentionally live out the promises of our baptism, we are renewed by its waters and are given a “fresh start” to live as the Christians we long to be.
In Christ’s love, it is never too late for a new beginning. We see this in today’s Gospel reading, when Jesus brings the only son of a widow back from the dead. And do you know what his call to new life was? Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” (Luke 7:14). This is our call, too! Jesus says this to our hearts, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” “Young woman, I tell you, arise!” The fulfillment of our call is the way we live out the radical nature of our baptism. The Christian life is not easy, but that is why we are called each new day to “arise” and fulfill the promises of our baptism, “[serving] the Lord with gladness” (Psalms 100:2).
What are you going to do today as Jesus calls you to “arise?” This is your fresh start. It may not seem like the perfect day to begin anew, but as Christians we know that today–this ordinary day–has been given to us by God and we are being called to “arise!” You have been called, you have been chosen. So “arise,” my friend, and let this new day be a new offering to our Lord:
Do you renounce Satan? I do.
And all his works? I do.
And all his empty show? I do.
Do you believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth? I do.
Do you believe in Jesus Chris, his only Son, our Lord,
who was born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered death and was buried,
rose again from the dead
and is seated at the right hand of the Father? I do.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and live everlasting? I do.
And may almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who was given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit
and bestowed on us forgiveness of our sins,
keep us by his grace,
in Christ Jesus our Lord,
for eternal life. Amen.