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