This last aspect of the resurrection of the body needs to be unpacked.
“It is sown a natural body...”: The Greek word translated “natural” is “psychikos,” which is where we get the word “soul.” This indicates that the body that is sown is a soul-filled body, which is the body’s natural state when alive.
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“… It is raised a spiritual body”: The Greek word translated “spiritual” is “pneumatikos,” which is where we get the word “spirit.” This indicates that the body that is raised is a spirit-filled body and, more specifically, a Holy Spirit-filled body.
In Romans St. Paul tells us, “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you” (8:11). From this we can clearly understand that our participation in the bodily resurrection of Christ is a work of the Blessed Trinity.
Some might wonder why God would ever want to give us our bodies back. The answer lies in understanding that before the foundation of the world God had in mind to create human persons. When he did so, he created man body and soul.
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Man’s body is fashioned by God out of the dust of the earth, and then he breathes into man’s nostrils the breath of life, the soul (cf. Genesis 2:7). This is how God created man; this is how he wants him to stay.
It is only as a result of sin that the separation of body and soul comes about, which is the very definition of death. So, it makes complete sense that he would want our bodies to be reunited with our souls. This is precisely what makes us human persons.
Of course, to understand the resurrection the body, it is necessary to understand Christ’s bodily resurrection and ascension. When he is raised from the dead, he has a glorified body, which we get a glimpse of during his transfiguration. He has a body radiant with the glory of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. This body he also brings into heavenly glory at the right hand of the Father in the ascension. He will possess his glorified body for all eternity.