Our Lord was glorified. That is, after his death, but before he rose, he was rewarded for having accomplished his mission on earth.

Sunday, 3/31/13

Great things happened to Jesus after his death, but before he rose as the Christ.

St. John, in Chapter Seven of his Gospel, hinted at the major changes that would take place when Jesus was glorified. At the Feast of Tabernacles the winter before his death, Jesus had called out, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me to drink.”  Then, John explained that by saying, “He said that in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him would receive. There was, of course, no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. (In his lifetime Jesus was led by the Spirit, but he could not confer the Spirit on others.)

The Book of Revelation presents a picture of how Jesus, as the victor over death, came to be glorified. In Chapter Five, verses 11-13 the angels and saints, overcome with awe, looked down on Jesus in death. I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.’”

St. Peter, addressing Jerusalem’s throng on Pentecost described Jesus being lifted to the Father’s throne to receive his full reward. “Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, and poured it forth.”

An indication of the immense enhancement Jesus received for his victory is indicated by his henceforth being known not as Jesus, but as the Christ.

From our readings of the four Gospels we are familiar with the preaching and the miracles of Jesus. But, have you noticed how St. Paul in none of his letters told stories about the preaching and miracles of Jesus? Paul was familiar with those stories, but he did not relate to them. His deep Christianity was focused entirely on Christ alive in heaven and alive in the Church.

These are hard things for us to grasp; but we can profit from copying Paul in praying directly to Christ.