Scripture's lovely, elusive superlatives
Salvation: The prophets spoke of 'the grace that was to be yours'
By Steve Hall
So we’re back to superlatives — one superlative in particular. It is not one from the achievements of man. Neither is it one of the many in the physical world. Scripture reveals it. Our faith teaches it. Yet it remains elusive, lingering with us in fragmented form for brief moments, and then with only partial comprehension.
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Peter 1:8-12
Luke 1:5-17
We like superlatives. No doubt about it. We celebrate the seven wonders of the classical world, the seven wonders of the modern world, and any other wonders we can think of. From skyscrapers in Dubai to Spheres in Las Vegas, we marvel at what we can do.
But we don’t stop there.
We’re ready and willing to be entranced by the tallest mountain, the depths of the ocean, the height of a waterfall, and any other scenic wonder that comes our way. And if we tire of any of those, we may turn our attention to the impossible immensity of space or the microscopic details of matter.
The human authors of Scripture were similarly entranced by the wonders of creation. In more than one passage, the Psalmist would marvel at what God has done.
“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You beset me behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” (Psalms 139:1-5)
This Tuesday morning’s readings take us on a slightly different journey—one so totally beyond comprehension that we’re led to intentionally narrow our focus so the mind can grasp what has come into its awareness.
The journey begins with the opening from Jeremiah. Before. Before! BEFORE!!!
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms,
to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.
Before you even existed I knew you.
Before you ever took form I had a plan for you.
Before you were born I assigned a job to you. (Jeremiah 1:4-10)
In his typical enshrouded manner, Paul would suggest something similar as he points to prophecy and “the grace that was to be yours.” The future is known because, in the mind of God, it already is.
Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated . . . .
And finally, in the story of John the Baptist, we have the realization of one such divine mystery and marvel. The divine thought has become prophecy and the prophecy has become actuality.
Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
So we’re back to superlatives — one superlative in particular. It is not one from the achievements of man. Neither is it one of the many in the physical world. Scripture reveals it. Our faith teaches it. Yet it remains elusive, lingering with us in fragmented form for brief moments, and then with only partial comprehension.
The texts given for our reflection today reveal far more than what pertains to the annals of historical events, more than is explained in the lives of Jeremiah, or the early Christians, or John the Baptist. Within these sacred words is the reminder that each one of us, not just a few, has been known to God for all eternity.
Before you even existed He knew you.
Before you ever took form He had a plan for you.
Before you were born He assigned a job to you.
From all eternity you have been!
Given the limitations of the Psalmist it is no wonder that he would exclaim:
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
It’s hard to comprehend that from eternity the Lord has been our hope.
It’s difficult to understand that the Lord has always been our trust, that we have depended on the Lord for all eternity, that we have no other strength.