2nd Sunday of Lent 25.2.18 Uniqueness of Christ
People judge Christianity by the Christians, and that is a
mistake.
The place to look to justify Christianity is Christ.
He is Perfection, and all good comes from Him. We cannot do
better, or other than approach Him, in worship and obedience.
If we go by the Christians themselves it is easy to find
fault in any direction; and then conclude: Well,
I don’t have to be part of any such religion which has so many dubious adherents.
But there is still the question of
Christ Himself. No matter how bad His disciples may be, He Himself is perfect,
and deserves the respect of all for that.
In His earthly life Our Lord worked continuous miracles,
each one further establishing His authenticity, as being from God, and indeed
God Himself!
The Transfiguration is another reminder of His supremacy,
showing Him as the fulfilment of all law and prophecy. Law, as in having the
authority to decree what is right and wrong. Prophecy, as in bringing events to
their proper conclusion.
He is on top of everything and everyone. There is no greater
authority in the world. His authority extends to all times and places.
He is all truth and all power. He is the One (and the only
one) who has the power to save – that is, to forgive sin, to restore life where
it has been lost.
He is the only saviour of the human race; the only God.
The modern world prides itself on respecting diversity,
pluralism, welcoming every belief system under the sun.
The welcome gets a bit cool sometimes when it comes to
Catholicism, but anyway this ‘diversity’ is missing the point.
It means that people will regard all religions as much the
same (including having no religion), and that is to deny that Christ is the
unique Saviour of the world.
As soon as we let false religions in, the true religion is
diluted.
Many Catholics have lost their faith in just this way. Too
much respect for falsehood, too little for the Truth.
As well as this false tolerance, the world also specializes
in Distraction. There is always some new activity or pursuit, always something to
keep off the one point that really matters - if you die where will you go?
Every one of us is on death row and facing judgment,
eternity, heaven or hell!
The True God finds His creation a very stiff-necked people. First
the Jews were stubborn, now every other race.
Still He continues to offer salvation. Despite all our sins
He still wants to save us.
His ways are not our ways (Is 55,8), but we should go by
them all the same.
He could make His presence more obvious to the world, but
the nature of salvation requires that He be somewhat indirect in His dealings
with us.
Salvation only works if we interact with God. We cannot be
saved if we are completely oblivious to Him. We have to make some sign of being
alive, even if it is only sincere contrition.
We are saved:
if we humble ourselves before Him;
if we develop personal trust in Him, believing that whatever
comes, He will make it right.
if we cast off all false gods, and submit to the God of
Israel, the only God.
If we join ourselves to His saving action, especially in the
Mass.
It helps if the Christians offer a strong witness, but even
if not, each of us can resolve not to lose our own faith.
I believe in Him even if I am the last one standing who
still does.
It is Christ who saves, and it is with Him I will stay. It
is good for us to be here!
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