Life, and life to the full.

I watched the news today, which contained a piece about the changes to the transplant law in the UK. The piece was about the death of a seven year-old, Jade, and how her family came to the agonising conclusion that her life support machine should eventually be turned off.

Jade’s mother was recounting the process after Jade’s death, and how they decided very quickly that if Jade had understood what was going on, she would have wanted to help others in whatever way she could – she was just that type of person, who would give away her last sweet if it would bring a smile to someone’s face, intent on making people happier and serving them. The donation of Jade’s organs saved the lives of four people.

Christ came to bring the fullness of life, to show us how to live in line with God’s priorities where Israel had failed. This mission is achieved and embodied most significantly in his brutal and agonising death. Christ was, in some sense, resurrected: new life arose from the despair and agony of death.

Bodies symbolise our identity, they are important to who we are and how we relate to others. Our body parts are also like those of almost everyone else – an ear is (more or less) an ear, and a right leg is (more or less) a right leg. As such, at death our body parts become useless to us as biological components, yet still retain something of our identity. I wonder if the giving of transplants offers a means of resurrection – life beyond death as the result of profound generosity and self-giving.

The tragedy of death may yield new life – continued life for the transplant’s recipient, and resurrection for the donor. Jade’s body was broken and given to many, that they may have life.