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Christ
our contemporary, alive today 'I was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore' (John, Apoc 1:18). 'Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and the same forever' (Paul). John and Paul never tire of repeating that most inspiring and essential truth that Jesus Christ, having passed into eternal life, is not less - but infinitely more involved in the events which occur in our daily lives than ever he was when he lived on this earth because he is no longer confined by time and space to one location but is, in a real and mystical sense, everywhere. No physical extremity, mental condition, geographical isolation is beyond the deft finger of God. This truth, highlighting the nearness, love and concern of the living Christ, must be always foremost in our minds. From the Middle Ages till comparatively recent times, however, Christians tended to be wholly engrossed in the historical details of Christ's earthly career and the general effect of such piety was the proliferation of imaginative and sentimental trivialities, created to fill the often stark simple narratives of the gospels. Today, however, thanks to scriptural and theological renewal, we are painfully aware of how irrelevant and unattractive such spirituality, with all its pious accretions and overtones, appears to our generation. Modern people find inspiration and relevance in Paul's obsession with the living Christ and the basic, sublime theme of John: 'Christ alive for evermore' Christ more dynamically present in our world than he ever was during his earthly life. Consequently, prayer - the basis of all true spiritual renewal - becomes so much more meaningful, practical, relevant. The resurrection of the living Christ teaches us that all the truly human aspects of our existence - emotions, intelligence, will - are, by virtue of Christ's resurrection, destined to go forward into eternal life. Hence the dignity of our humanity. If the Son of God has chosen to remain man forever, how can we who follow him, reach him by any spirituality that would de- humanise us, lessen our humanity? It is my total self - body and soul - that is to be redeemed by Christ. |
Available from all good book stores throughout Australia for $6.95 Used with permission from St Paul's Publishing © 1999 |
