The Cosmic Christ

Colossians 1: 15-28

I have officiated many funerals in my time as a pastor. Sometimes I didn’t even know the person who had died, but the family wanted a pastor to lead the funeral. Sometimes I knew the family, even if I didn’t know the deceased. Sometimes they were all complete strangers to me. I have also done funerals for non-humans. Yes, I have done pet funerals. Some people may criticize that, but I think I have solid theological and biblical backing for them. Not to mention that the loss of a pet can be one of the most devastating losses, and grieving people need pastoral care, no matter the source of that grief.

This is one of the scriptural passages that I will use in the pet funerals. In this passage, Paul (or a student of Paul) portrays Christ and the work of Christ as not just limited to humans, but for the good of all of creation and the cosmos. Some theologians, especially mystics, often speak of the “Comic Christ” to reflect Christ’s work in all of creation, not just in humans. The Cosmic Christ is the one through whom all things exist…humans, animals, nature, the planets, and the galaxies. Jesus Christ is not just the Lord of our lives and the Lord of the Church, but He is Lord of the Universe. As the writer begins this passage:

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1: 15- 17, CEB)

When I read passages like this and the prologue in the Gospel of John, my mind struggles to wrap itself around the bigness of God. I have trouble thinking about the infinity of the universe. It’s pretty mind-blowing. It seems impossible to fathom that there is space beyond the known observable universe and that space was created by God as well. It reminds me of the observation of 20 th century Swiss theologian Karl Barth, “We can only understand how God is knowable from the way He actually gives Himself to be known.”

What we know of God has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ, but Jesus Christ is not just Christ for us. He is Christ of all of the universe. He is reconciling all of creation (that which we can observe and that which is beyond our comprehension). Mind-blown! Even if I can’t grasp what that may look like in its totality, I can say one thing: God is bigger than our human imaginations can comprehend. And yet, I think sometimes we attempt to make God smaller. When we doubt what God can do, we make God smaller. When we think that we understand God completely, we make God smaller. When we create God in our own image, we definitely make God smaller. And yet…no matter how big God is, how cosmic Christ is, our relationship with our Creator is still intimate. God through Jesus Christ is always with us.

Prayer

Cosmic Christ, You are before all things and in You all things hold together. Expand my vision of who You are, and teach me to trust in Your power not only over my life, but over all creation. May I live in awe of Your majesty and peace through Your reconciliation. Amen.

Rev. Dana Ezell