Death has no more power over him, St. Paul insisted. That was one of the earliest givens of our faith in the Risen-Lord. Something happened to him that put him forever beyond death’s reach. This is what our Christian tradition meant by impas-sibilitas.

Whatever happened to him had something to do with freedom from all bodily evil, including suffering and death. The Risen-Lord would know no strain, no bruise, no twisted muscle in his back. He would not visit his local Clinic for a tom rotator cuff or for a knee replacement. His own healing ministry had hinted at all this, prefigured all this, as it were. Anyone who suffers from physical pain will understand the desire to be free from bodily evil.

Whatever happened to him had something to do with freedom from the need to guard the body, to protect it. The Risen-Lord would have no need of safety helmets, gloves, earplugs, and steel-toed shoes. He would do without smoke detectors and drivers’ side airbags. This stands to reason if he was free from all bodily evil. Anyone who despises bulky protective gear will understand the desire to be free from this need to guard the body.

Whatever happened to him had something to do with freedom from the need to take the ordinary measures for the preserving of bodily life. Food, drink, sleep — these ceased to be essential requirements for the Risen-Lord. Understand this well: it is the need for these of which our tradition speaks. Jesus did indeed eat and drink in the company of his disciples. He enjoyed the normal life of a living body. But he was able to suspend at will the common laws of human life and live above them when he so desired.

This too is consistent with human desire. Has there ever been a child who has not felt her play interrupted by the call to dinner? Or who has not felt the mean blow to the delights of family life by the dread words bedtime? Has there ever been an older man who has not felt the inconvenience, the burden, of preparing a meal? Or who has not hated to see night come once sleep has grown more fitful?

Given what seems to have happened to the Risen Lord, it is possible that our risen bodies too will achieve at last the easy control of these basic needs, will at last make them work for us.