In spring every grass and green plant comes forth from the depths of the earth and appears in its own form. So too on the last day the dead will come forth from their graves, and each will appear in his own form.
"For the time is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear the voice of the Son of God, and they will come forth. Those who have done good will rise to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation" (Jn 5:28-29).
In winter trees and grasses seem withered, but in spring their vitality appears. So too, to those who do not know the resurrection of the dead, the dead seem as though they had perished. But holy faith teaches us that their life will appear on the last day.
During winter both dry and strong trees appear alike, but in spring their difference is known. So too in the present age, and even in death itself, the righteous and the impious have the same outward appearance. But at the resurrection of the dead a great difference between them will appear.
Strong trees and grasses are clothed with leaves and various flowers in spring. So too, in the resurrection of the dead, the bodies of the pious and righteous will be transformed into a new, bright, pleasing, and beautiful form, according to the unfailing promise of God.
"Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also await our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our lowly body so that it may be conformed to His glorious Body" (Phil 3:20-21).
"Beloved, now we are children of God, but it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. We know only that, when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 Jn 3:2).
"Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father" (Mt 13:43).
Dry trees and grasses have the same unchanged appearance in winter and in spring, that is, an unpleasant and blackened one. So too impious and godless people, both now and then, will have an unpleasant, indeed a most foul, appearance.
Christian, you see in spring the image and sign of the resurrection of the dead. You see what the resurrection of the righteous will be, and what the resurrection of sinners will be. Then all will receive according to their deeds.
Live now as you wish to rise then. You look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Do not live contrary to this, but worthily of it.
If you wish then to have a share with the pious, righteous, and holy, live now piously, holily, and righteously. What a man has within now will appear outwardly then. Is there piety? Then it will be shown. Is there impiety and hypocrisy? Then it will be revealed.
Then "the children of God and the children of the devil will be known." Then "the sheep will be separated from the goats" (1 Jn 3:10; Mt 25:32-33).
If we wish, beloved, to attain the resurrection of the righteous, we must now rise spiritually with the risen Christ. "As Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4).
"Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (Eph 5:14). "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection" (Rev 20:6).
THEOSIS