See You at the Great Christmas my Brother . . . (On a Syrian Buried in Bath)

Last updated on: November 28, 2018 at 8:58 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

See You at the Great Christmas my Brother . . . (On a Syrian Buried in Bath) 2018-11-28T08:58:58-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

He was buried in a Roman province far away from home, this Syrian Christian. We know he journeyed to Bath to take the waters and never made it home.

His body is on display for the tourists.

I saw this Syrian, a member of my mother Church, crossed myself and prayed.

Being dead, he still speaks. He draws attention, because modern people have a mixed relationship with the body. We like beautiful bodies propped up, made up, and a bit unreal. In fact, most bodies we see are virtual, prettied up with technology, and that is only counting advertising and not less savory practices.

As for the imperfect, the old, the dying, and the dead, we are more hesitant. We want death to be lovely, but death is a severe mercy. Death reduces us to bones and then ashes and dust. As the Syrian Christian is, we will be. Our forefathers and mothers saw dying and buried their dead in the churches they attended. When the grave yard was full, the bones joined the other righteous awaiting the Final Trumpet.

The dead will be raised.

Of course, we do not need the original bones. God will draw together what was out of what will be then and make all things anew. Still Christians love the body, because there is no fully human person without a body. We are meat men, not just souls renting a container. We are not just our souls.

The body of our loved one is sacred to us, because of what it was and what will be again. The age to come will restore what was and so we hold on to the bones as a promise.

This British museum holds on to the bones as a historical curiousity: just so.

It is curious how they misunderstand what a thing is: missing the sacred and so missing the point. Still our brother in Christ waits, lets us look, pray if we can, and prays for us.

He is waiting for the final restoration, but he knows. He “sees,” though not as we can see. The last Christian in Britain could die and still Britain would be full of praying Christians: the righteous dead of all ages have gone no where. They wait, they watch, and ask “How long, Lord?”

This Syrian came a long way for something: healing? business? We do not know. That work is done, but in his burial his faith was obvious to the scientists studying his remains. He died with hope and that hope will not disappoint him. Meanwhile, over the ages, in the ground and now encased for the tourists he has done his work. He prayed for darkling Britain as the Romans left and night fell. He prayed for Alfred, the great Christian king. He prayed through the centuries mourning colonial sins and interceding against the Nazi.

This Syrian Christian has had much to do. Someday his work will be done, but not yet. His bones are an outer sign of this deeper reality.

This next Sunday I will go to a Church planted in Houston by Christians from ancient Syria. We will pray for our nation and I will recall this nameless brother and ask for his prayers.

The work goes on, but the final Christmas is coming when the work will be done, the present will come, and we will feast without end. The Syrian brother will be there and I will be able to learn his name. God help me to remain faithful in that blessed hope.

Amen.

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

November 26, 2018

No Ant Farm for Me: Counting Down to Christmas

Next Post

November 28, 2018 The Budget, the Local Church, and Who Is Helping: People not Money

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which branch of Christianity uses the term "Patriarch" for its highest officials?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Baptist Eastern Orthodox Methodist Catholic

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »