Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN,.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The third article of the Apostle’s Creed is “Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” There are nineteen (19) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 569.
No one forced God to create us in the beginning (cf. Genesis 1:1-2:3; 5:1-2). No one forced Jesus to become man, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem (cf. Matthew 2:1). Similarly, no one forced Jesus to go to Jerusalem, to lay down His life for our salvation. He did this freely (cf. John 10:18). The free will which we enjoy and by which we choose well, for God and according to His holy will is part of how we are ‘in the image of God’ (cf. Genesis 1:27; 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7).
Because of the hypostatic union (the human and divine natures are united in His Divine Person), like the Father and the Spirit the Lord Jesus is all knowing (omniscient). He knew who would betray Him (cf. Matthew 26:21-23, 46; Mark 14:18, 42; Luke 22:48; John 6:64, 71; 13:11 , 21). He predicted His saving Passion repeatedly (cf. Matthew 12:40; 17:9, 22-23; 20:18). He could read the hearts and minds of others (cf. Matthew 9:4; Mark 2:6; 3:5; Luke 5:22; 9:47; 16:15; 24:38). He knows our innermost musings.
While we call the day on which Jesus died ‘Good Friday’ it is good because it is at the heart of our salvation. The physical violence done to the Lord on that day was only a part of His sufferings. To be scourged (cf. Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 18:33; John 19:1), to be crowned with thorns (cf. Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2, 5), to carry the wood of the Cross (cf. John 19:17), to be nailed to the Cross this was all a part of the sacrifice Jesus willingly undertook to save us from ourselves, from our sins. The betrayal and abandonment as well as the jeering of the crowd (cf. Mark 15:13-14, 32; Luke 23:21; John 19:6, 15; 1 Peter 2:23) were further sufferings beyond the physical.
Jesus’ suffering Passion on Good Friday in obedience to the truth of His mission is the divine answer to the contradiction of sinners (cf .Hebrews 12:3). Sometimes we like to leave the shouts of the crowd: ‘Crucify Him, Crucify Him’ in the past, over there, by them… but each time we sin, willfully disregarding the holy Law of God, the Commandments, virtuous living… we join in the mockery of Christ. Each time we repent our sins, turning from them and back to God especially in the Sacrament of Penance we console the Lord in His Passion.
May our holy lives, by God’s grace, be pleasing in the sight of Almighty God and an encouragement to others.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr