In the Second Reading for today St Paul states: "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died." (1 Cor 15: 20) For many people in contemporary society distinctions of this sort are noxious. The demand is for equal pay, marriage equality and equality in other areas of life. That Christ and his Mother should have priority in the resurrection, when we are glorified in body and soul, seems to be unfair. Yet, St Paul clearly states: "But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Cor 15: 23) Our Lady, above all others, belonged to Christ as the first and greatest of his disciples. It is fitting, therefore, that she should share first in the fullness of the life that God offers us in the resurrection. We need to be mindful that the complete experience of what God wants for us is still yet to be revealed. We still need to overcome the obstacles of our own encounter with the cross since: "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Cor 15: 26) We are not left alone, however, because the sacraments give us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet to which we are called and will enjoy in the presence of Our Lady and all the saints.
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