Resting with the Fathers

Northern English abbeys and churches were often attacked and damaged by raiding Scots. The same might be said for southern Scottish establishments on English forays north. This is Holmcultram Abbey, in Abbeytown in north Cumbria. The Scots often harried it, especially in 1327 when Robert the Bruce called by. Interestingly, his own father was buried in its grounds, yet this did not spare its desolation when the son visited with his army. Whereas Bruce despoiled his father’s resting place, the ancient Judean and Israelite kings seemed to relish sharing their forbears’ tombs:

So Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah…

So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria…

And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father…

So Joram rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David…

Old Testament saints (and villains, it would seem) longed to a) rest and b) be reunited with lost ones, especially they who bred them. Their theologies of heaven and the afterlife may have been only a partial understanding our New Testament receipt of truth, but the idea is there. As we enter heaven, I dare say we shall be greeted by many an ancestor who called on the name of the Lord. Few in our immediate families may be converted to Christ, but in heaven we shall have relations that predate all our records. And in any event, every Christian is our brother and sister- and they too shall be there.

Bury me where you will, even dance on my grave if it makes you feel better. Be assured, I’ll be nicely occupied elsewhere, resting with saved ancestors and departed brethren.