One of the secrets of Catholicism is its preference for the “real,” its love for and elevation of the natural, which it seeks to purify but never to erase. This preference is grounded in the fact that God lowered Himself in order to elevate us. God took to Himself a human nature; in the Person of Jesus we encounter “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). An honest assessment of our human condition reveals that all is not well with us. Damaged as we are by sin, we need saving, so God freely chose to enter into the reality of our woundedness to restore and renew us. Jesus, whose name means “God saves” does just that, a project begun with His birth, which we celebrate this week, and culminated with His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
The Catholic Church, tasked by Jesus with continuing His saving mission, also goes out to meet us in the reality of our condition by proclaiming Jesus and celebrating His sacraments so that we might encounter even in our life here-and-now the very life and love of God. Through a lifetime of perseverance in cooperating with “God with us” our natural condition will be brought to its fulfillment. Thanks to God becoming one of us in the Person of Jesus, we can be who we are meant to be - purified - not erased.
David J. Conrad
The Catholic Church, tasked by Jesus with continuing His saving mission, also goes out to meet us in the reality of our condition by proclaiming Jesus and celebrating His sacraments so that we might encounter even in our life here-and-now the very life and love of God. Through a lifetime of perseverance in cooperating with “God with us” our natural condition will be brought to its fulfillment. Thanks to God becoming one of us in the Person of Jesus, we can be who we are meant to be - purified - not erased.
David J. Conrad
RSS Feed
