January 12, 2023

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:19-21)

Albert Camus, the Pulitzer Prize winning absurdist, died in a car crash when he was 46. Faulkner wrote his obituary, saying, "When the door shut for him he had already written on this side of it that which every artist who also carries through life with him that one same foreknowledge and hatred of death, is hoping to do: I was here.”

What is not widely known about Camus is that right before his death he asked a minister in Paris to baptize him. His absurdist vision of life apparently gave way to the absurdly good news of the Gospel. He was here, yes. And now he is raised to life in Christ.

“Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Third Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)