Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible....
The canonized Doctor of the Church, Saint John Henry Newman, recognized the development of Christian doctrine within the historical contexts and controversies of their time. Saint Paul's magnificent song of Jesus, as we find it in today's first reading, was apparently a response to confusing arguments in Colossae in the Lycus Valley in Asia Minor, east of Ephesus. (present day Turkey.)
Everyone knew of powerful "things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible." The powerful things of earth were governors, kings, and emperors with their armies and navies to protect and regulate; but there were also powerful, invisible beings who influenced much of what goes on in human life. These included what we would call the forces of nature like wind, rain, and earthquake. And they were those insidious powers that sometimes possess unfortunate individuals, and the far worse spirits that overtake armies and cities and drive them to madness. Revelation describes how Saint Michael drove them out of heaven and to the earth where they continue to make war against God's people.
Skeptics today deny the existence of heavenly spirits and many Christians might be persuaded by the skeptic's hegemonic authority. But innumerable and inexplicable forces still drive human affairs with all too familiar frequency. Everyone knows that greed and fear drive the stock markets. How hard is it to recognize them with capital letters, Greed and Fear? Do they not also possess those traits that are typical of persons like impulsive irrationality? The harder our scientific skeptics try to persuade us that the universe is determined only by cause and effect, the more frequently it appears driven by arbitrary, invisible persons. They resemble the pagan gods of innumerable premodern societies, who were equally stupid and impulsive.
The Colossians needed no one to tell them there are foreign agents in the air, water, fire, and earth. They were all too familiar with the demons that stirred continual trouble among people; gods who might be placated with "self-abasement and worship." What they didn't know, and needed to know, was that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Jesus upon his death and resurrection. That could only be Good News to those who knew of his compassionate attitude toward the poor and lowly of our troubled world.
Jesus had driven demons out of possessed persons during his brief journey from Galilee to Jerusalem; and now his disciples, invested with the authority of his Holy Spirit, were driving demons out of individuals and communities.
We continue that good work to this day; and are especially concerned about the demons who are driving nations to war.
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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.