What entombs you?
I am Catholic but I really love contemporary Christian music. There are so many various bands whose prayerful tunes fill my heart with hope. In the Hillsong song So Will I (100 Billion X), the lyric “If You left the grave behind You, so will I.” It is a line that has called to me and I found it returning to my thoughts over and over again. It’s a triumphant reminder of resurrection power—the ultimate liberation from the tomb of death. But this begs a question for those of us living in the so-called First World: What entombs us?
This question invites us to reflect on the places in our lives where we remain trapped, stagnant, or blind to the freedom Christ offers. But in the First World, where abundance often overshadows scarcity, identifying our tombs can be deceptively difficult. When physical poverty isn’t at our doorstep, what is the poverty we face? What entombs us today?
The Poverty of Isolation
We live in a hyperconnected world, but loneliness is epidemic. Social media promises connection and can be such a useful tool to prompt global connection, but in our localised lives often leaves us feeling more isolated and inadequate. We scroll endlessly, consuming curated versions of other people’s lives while retreating deeper into our own echo chambers. This isolation entombs us, not only from others but from ourselves, as we spend too much time taking in created images of others rather than reflecting on the eyes that stare back from the mirror every day.
The Poverty of Meaning
In a culture obsessed with productivity, many of us struggle to find meaning beyond our achievements. The drive for success becomes a tomb of endless striving, where our worth is measured by grades, promotions, cliques or financial milestones. The deeper truths of life—faith, relationships, purpose—are buried beneath the noise of busyness. We sacrifice rest, reflection, truth and connection for a sense of accomplishment that often feels hollow and at times numbs.
The Poverty of Excess
Ironically, one of our greatest First World struggles is abundance. Consumerism entombs us in cycles of acquisition and dissatisfaction. The more we accumulate, the less fulfilled we feel. Our closets are full, but our souls are empty. The poverty of excess leaves us numb to gratitude and blind to the true value of things. It turns us inward (but not in a good way), focusing on what we can gain rather than what we can give. We buy and buy and then buy some more …
The Poverty of Apathy
Perhaps the most insidious tomb in the First World is apathy. We are bombarded by news of global suffering, climate crises, and social injustice. The sheer volume of need can feel paralyzing, leading us to disengage rather than act. Apathy whispers that someone else will step up, that our small contributions won’t matter. It entombs our compassion and keeps us from living out the Gospel mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves. Apathy is death to compassionate action, it is a dangerous tomb indeed. It is difficult. We are hard-wired to care but somewhere down the road of life we have become numb. Where is our empathy and our inclusivity in a world fractured by violence and evil? Why are we so afraid to let our hearts break in sadness at the suffering of others?
Liberation Theology: A Call to Resurrection
Liberation theology reminds us that Christ’s resurrection is a call to action, not just a historical event. In the First World, our poverty may not be material, but it is no less real. Christ invites us to leave the tombs of isolation, meaninglessness, excess, and apathy behind. He offers us a resurrection of purpose, community, and generosity. It is a priceless privilege of hope.
- From Isolation to Community: Reclaim the power of real connection. Share meals, engage in deep conversations, and create spaces where others feel seen and valued. Liberation begins when we break down walls and build relationships. To truly connect you need to know who you are at your core. We need to stop isolating ourselves from ourselves and sit in silence and know.
- From Meaninglessness to Purpose: Rediscover the sacred in the ordinary. Find meaning not in what you achieve but in how you live and who you really are—through acts of kindness, service, and faithfulness to God’s call. Get out in nature and marvel at the world in which we are graced to live.
- From Excess to Simplicity: Practice gratitude and embrace simplicity. Instead of accumulating, try giving. Let go of possessions, habits, and attitudes that no longer serve you, and make room for what truly matters. People matter. Life matters. Kindness matters. Value what you have and look after things to engage more readily in sustainable practices.
- From Apathy to Action: Choose to care. Start small but start somewhere. Whether it’s volunteering locally, advocating for justice, or simply praying for those in need, every action is a step toward resurrection life. Be kind. Daily.
What Entombs You?
The tombs of the First World may not be made of stone, but they are just as confining. They rob us of the fullness of life Christ promises. The good news is that we are not alone in our struggle. Just as Christ called Lazarus out of the grave, He calls us to leave behind whatever entombs us and walk into the light of resurrection. Find the supports you need to stand bathed in the warmth of light and step out of the cold shadow of death.
So, I ask again: What entombs you today? Is it the weight of loneliness, the emptiness of consumerism, or the paralysis of apathy? Liberation theology challenges us to name our tombs, confront them, and embrace the freedom Christ offers—not just for ourselves but for the sake of others.
Because if He left the grave behind Him, so can we. Let us rise together, leaving behind our First World poverty, and step into a life of love, justice, and abundance for all. What will you leave behind today?
Christ has risen, and so must we—risen from our apathy, our comfort, and our graves of privilege. Liberation theology calls us to resurrection solidarity. And in this call, we find not just our liberation but also our purpose. As the song says, “If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I.”
Will you?
The Female Theologian 