The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
When we celebrate the apostles the church often invokes Psalm 98 (as above) and Psalm 19: “their message goes out to all the earth.” It is our destiny, privilege and desire to announce the gospel to every creature. God’s mighty work is not fulfilled until our apostolic effort has spanned the earth in the sight of all the nations.
I think of this liturgically, meaning I imagine all creatures of earth and heaven joining in hymns of praise around the Heavenly Altar. That may sound too strange to even imagine but notice how our secular culture celebrates its own desire for peace. Notice songs like Kumbaya, “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony...:” “Children of the world;” and “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” These aspirations have liturgical resonance especially when huge crowds of people lock arms and sing together.
Christians share the songs and their aspirations with the secular culture. Or, perhaps more accurately, we taught them to hope with us for world-wide peace and prosperity. Despite our endless wars and intractable poverty, humanity still expects that day when God will reveal his justice.
Christians share the songs and their aspirations with the secular culture. Or, perhaps more accurately, we taught them to hope with us for world-wide peace and prosperity. Despite our endless wars and intractable poverty, humanity still expects that day when God will reveal his justice.
Christians believe the apostolic message is vital to the birth of peace. With all due respect to the variety of world religions there will be no peace until everyone has embraced the humanity of Jesus Christ as it was revealed from the tower of the cross. His human nature, inspired by the Word, is the key to every grace God would give us. Philosophies just won't do. Nor will religions. We must have a real change that begins by eating his flesh and drinking his blood.
Without the apostolic word the crucifixion of Jesus and the Sacrifice of the Mass are incomprehensible. The world sees that dreadful incident as the killing of a man and the Mass as a display of a deluded church. But hearing the word they experience sacrament – a mysterious interaction of deed and word – that signifies grace. Suddenly the inexplicable explodes with meaning; and the inconceivable, with tender mercy.
Without the apostolic word the crucifixion of Jesus and the Sacrifice of the Mass are incomprehensible. The world sees that dreadful incident as the killing of a man and the Mass as a display of a deluded church. But hearing the word they experience sacrament – a mysterious interaction of deed and word – that signifies grace. Suddenly the inexplicable explodes with meaning; and the inconceivable, with tender mercy.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.