Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

Lectionary: 445


Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion:
Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.




This passage from Paul's first letter to Timothy is a poem or song celebrating the "mystery of devotion" who is Jesus. However, this mystery requires many names and deep reflection. If you think you know the Lord, you don't. If you acknowledge that you are known by the Lord and wish to remain in his company, you reflect some of the humble wisdom required of a disciple.
This mystery comes to us as a "manifested" word, "in the flesh." The word, of course, is an analogy which suggests the mystery; human beings speak words to one another; what God does is unspeakable in human terms but it's something like a word -- which we have heard and welcomed. But the word was a man who came to us in the flesh, a messenger from God, bringing peace, mercy, atonement, justice, communion and so forth.
However, the Word was crucified like any common criminal. He did not display any great authority or power while he lived among us; he did not persuade Roman emperors, their sycophant kings or their punishing armies to worship him. In fact he and his claim needed vindication. It was given by the Spirit.
You and I received that Spirit, but not everyone has. I often think of Saint Luke's "icon" which reveals the young virgin Mary and her matronly cousin Elizabeth greeting one another. These two know something in the Spirit that worldly powers cannot imagine. They are dancing for joy well beneath the radar that scans the earth for resistance or rebellion. Why would the emperor care if a couple of silly women are pregnant?
But we know and we dance for joy.
The mystery is seen by the angels, which are also invisible to earthly powers, and proclaimed to the Gentiles. The apostolic church never forgot its keen disappointment that the entire Jewish world did not receive the Word.
But he was "believed in throughout the world" by those whom God foreknew, even as he was taken up in glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.