One Blessing

Source: youtube

I was hoping that by the time we got to the sixth Sunday of Easter this episode of Covid 19 with its isolation, quarantine, physical distancing would be gone.  But it was a vain hope.  However, one blessing of the isolation/quarantine is the extra time for reflection and prayer.

I have been struck with the past Sunday and weekday Mass readings and their emphasis on Jesus as Son of God.  It’s easy to relate to and appreciate Jesus, the man, the son of Mary, as the disciples in the Gospel did.

But knowing Jesus, Son of God,  is another matter.  That was a challenge even to His apostles.  This essential part of our faith is one that still divides Christians in the world.  Some simply recognize Jesus as a good man who was like all of us.  He came and did many wondrous things.

But our Catholic faith declares Jesus to be God, second person in the Blessed Trinity.  The apostles and disciples had the gift to actually see Him face to face, to meet, touch, and even eat with Him after the resurrection.  Because of that experience they could exclaim as Thomas did “my Lord and my God!”  We have not had that experience.

But we do have their witness (we recite the Apostles Creed every Sunday!) and we have also the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  All these proclaim clearly the apostles’ faith in Jesus who is God.  In all those accounts the message is the same.  Jesus does works only God can do.

Jesus changes the water to wine, stills the storm, brings healing and health to the blind, lame, and sick, and He raises the dead little girl and, spectacularly, Lazarus who had been dead for days.

Finally after offering his life’s blood on the cross, Jesus conquers his own earthly death, rising in splendour from the tomb, showing us in Himself the glory of God,  and displaying in His own risen body the wondrous existence He wishes to share us.

Yes, our faith is that Jesus is God.  Our trust in His words and in His presence can sustain us through anything!  Even Pandemics!

Vivat Christus!   Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us!

Frank Obrigewitsch, SJ, is pastor of St. Ignatius parish in Winnipeg.

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2 Comments
  • Joan Levy Earle
    Posted at 03:12h, 17 August Reply

    I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and yet once a week I catch myself praying… Lord help my unbelief. My faith is strong but still a bit wobbly. Regular prayer keeps me going and it would be foolish to think I could live without praying.
    Ths devil is cunning.
    Dont ket him ŕob you of one drop of your love for Jesus and the Holy Family.

  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 09:14h, 17 August Reply

    Amen Frank! Thank you.

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