The House That Jack Built

Aah, yes.... the hypnotic effect (and the fun) of the cumulative story. It repeats itself and winds it way through your mind...accumulating images and personalities like a verbal line dance. Many of you may recall the fun we had with the nursery rhyme The House That Jack Built Although you may or may not remember the details of every lilting line, it is unlikely that you will forget the first and the last lines of the rhyme: The House that Jack Built. Once you get going on the story, you even fall into the measured rhythm and tempo, don't you?

So often scripture relates a cumulative story. Read the lines from Paul's letter to the Corinthians

I can easily join the dancing line... moved by God's Love given so freely in Christ, my heart begins to sing...

This is the Christ, who rose from the dead, who appeared to.....and again to....and then to Paul....who became an apostle...who proclaimed the Good News...that this is the Christ...who rose from the dead...who appeared to Pamela in Word and in Sacrament...who then was sent to tell others about the one who is Christ...who rose from the dead...

The foundation of our faith, that in Christ death has no ultimate power over us is the first and last line of the greatest cumulative story ever told! Wow!