Ressignification of death in Paul in the light of the Ressurrection: message of com-fort in pandemic context

Abstract

The article starts from the painful experience of the loss of loved ones in pandemic’s times to illuminate the question of the life and death’s  meaning. The aim is to relate these experiences to dramatic situations. In the Christian community of Thessalonica in the year 51 of the Christian era, the concern was the fate of the death at the time of the Lord’s coming. In the third century, Cyprian in the work “De Mortalitate” in the midst of the epidemic exhorts Christians not fear death, because to die was to meet the Lord. The study offers a theological meaning of the death in ligth of the Christ’s resurrection. Death has meaning, for to live in Christ is to live new life, and to die is to be with the risen Christ. It follows that the Christian hope in eternal life is not alienation in a  heavenly future. In situation of death, thouse who are resurrected are in solidarity with thouse who soffer and are committed to promoting life. Therefore the present life mirrors de future reality. However, when the present does not show signs of hope, more emphasis is placed on the future in God.