Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
An enthusiastic woman once shouted at the Lord, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." to which he replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
The admiring woman could only imagine the thrill of being the mother of an inspired rabbi; like the crowd around her, she could not imagine the ordeal that would lead his mother from knowing Jesus according to the flesh. If she were to follow the Lord to Jerusalem and to witness his arrest, trial, scourging, and death she might imagine the shame that would fall upon Mary and all her kin. People would flee from her if they met her in the street; others would turn their back and not acknowledge her presence. Those who could not avoid her would not look her in the eye, nor say anything. But they would speak without hesitation to others, once she was out of hearing.
Jesus's mother would come to know "Christ in a new creation," not according to the flesh, not according to her maternity of a baby boy. She would know him in the Spirit as the Son of God. Though he would always be her only begotten son; and she, his virgin mother, she would know, love, and serve him in the mysterious ways of her Immaculate Heart.
This is the invitation that the Spirit gives to every one who belongs to Jesus. We know each other in the Church not according to the flesh, but in the Lord's Holy Spirit. This conversion usually comes slowly to us. Boys and girls attending Mass probably don't eye one another in that manner. Their flirting and flaunting rarely celebrate their Christian ideals. Nor can any adult scold them for it without remembering their own foolish youth.
By the time they reach the altar to be married, we can hope they have begun to admire one another for their courage, integrity, and purity of heart. But the Sacrament of Marriage is also a sacrament of penance, and their purification will come through many hard discussions and disagreement, and with the inevitable disappointments, setbacks, and tragedies they might endure. Even their mutual betrayals will open their eyes to the wonder of one another as grace works its miracles.
Celibacy also teaches us to see one another through the eyes of Christ. A gift which appears spontaneously within some individuals as they turn to the Lord, celibacy forces us to set aside the desires of the flesh to see chastely, and more clearly, the image of God in one another.
Every human being is desirable in the eyes of God; this is why he gave his only Son for our salvation. The Lord sees our worth; and in the Lord we see it also. We no longer see ourselves as the anonymous poet of The Hell-bound Train described:
The passengers were a most motley crew—Church member, atheist, Gentile, and Jew,Rich men in broadcloth, beggars in rags,Handsome young ladies, and withered old hags,Yellow and black men, red, brown, and white,All chained together, O God what a sight.
(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.😁)
Today's memorial is a delight for Catholics as we celebrate our Mother Mary, and the treasure of her Immaculate Heart, a gift which she shares with us.
No comments:
Post a Comment
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.