The mystery hidden for ages and generations

By Steve Hall

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Colossians 1:21-23
Luke 6:1-5

When was the last time you were blown away by something you saw, something you experienced, or something that just happened?

This is, obviously, a wide reaching question. I might attach such a description to something my grandson said or to the UFO that landed in my back yard last night — presuming said UFO actually landed. In other words, a wide range of events might draw forth a similar response even though the significance of such events may range from the ordinary to the extraordinary. In any case, the occasions which provoke such a response will end up being described with the somewhat limited vocabulary available to us. 

Whether we’re talking about hearing unexpected words from another, the experience of ‘first love,’ the viewing of the Grand Canyon or an atomic bomb explosion we will still be searching through the thesaurus for appropriate words, words like ‘overcome,’ ‘overpowered,’ ‘unnerved,’ ‘upset,’ ‘overwhelmed,’ or just ‘blown away.’ So let’s return to the opening question: When was the last time you were blown away by something you saw, something you experienced, or something that just happened?

It’s not hard to imagine a few eyebrows being raised when Jesus casually observes at the end of today’s Gospel: "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."

Now, what the heck does that mean?

The ‘Son of Man’ term is first used in the book of Daniel and the ‘Son of Man’ is part of Daniel’s vision.

“So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened and fell upon my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.” (Daniel 8:17) In the context of the book of Daniel ‘Son of Man’ is placed squarely with the end times and the messiah. But what did Jesus mean by it?

The phrase was ambiguous enough that, like the parables, it could not be immediately given a specific interpretation. Rather, you had to think about it. This was Jesus’ most common term for himself yet it remained enigmatic at the time as well as for us. Although Jesus would continue to use the term as regards himself, the next time it shows up in Scripture is on the lips of St Stephen while he is being stoned. “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56) 

After that we will hear it once again in the book of Revelation. First, at the very beginning: “. . . and in the midst of the lampstands one like a Son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest.” (Revelation 1:13) Then again midway though, in chapter fourteen: “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.” (Revelation 14:14)

Though the reference to Jesus was probably clear to Stephen’s murderers when he described his vision because of Jesus’ own use of the term, the definitive meaning was not established until the clarity brought by Revelation.

Now the point of all this is that the true identity of Jesus was ambiguous during his lifetime. Some people were disbelieving, some were skeptical, some were suspicious and most were probably just confused. All of this can be perceived in the reaction of the Apostles after Jesus calms the storm: “Who is this that even the wind and sea obey him?”

In the account of the gospels we hear Jesus ask the disciples: “But who do you say that I am.” “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (Matthew 16:16) “And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’” (Matthew 16:17) 

Note that Jesus himself says that Peter’s words are the result of a special revelation from the Father. Furthermore, although references to "sons of God", "son of God" and "son of the LORD" are occasionally found in Jewish literature, they never refer to physical descent from God. These terms are often used in the general sense in which the Jewish people were referred to as "children of the LORD your God"

Those who lived with Jesus in his day, even his closest followers, would remain in the dark until after the Resurrection, in fact, even until after Pentecost. But the, day, the time, the moment was coming when the cosmos would forever change, the disciples would catch their breath, words would fail and only stunned silence or blubbering gibberish could be heard. The disciples, one by one, were blown away by something they saw, something they experienced, something that just happened? In one singularly unique instant a man returned from the dead — not as a phantasm, nor as a ghost, nor as an apparition — but as a man who could walk and talk, eat and drink, smile and laugh. Such a moment the world had never seen. How does one grapple with such an event?

This takes us to the first reading.

Paul’s letters are the first writings of what would become the New Testament. The passage we are given to digest this morning is from a letter he wrote to the Christians at Collasae in Asia Minor.

Colossians is a short letter, only four chapters; the passage we have is shorter still. In the full context of those five verses, however, we witness the explosive outpouring of wonder that was finally released by those early followers of the Christ. Paul’s words alone are nothing short of exciting, astonishing, and sufficient to blow anyone away. This total passage which I am going to read is a mere twelve verses; almost half of those comprise today’s reading.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; In him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities All things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

We presume the text is inspired, yet the brilliance of his proclamation still indicate an author struggling for words even remotely adequate to express a truth perceived. It is in this context that we are given today’s reading. It is the very next five verses and their message is clearly caught up in the wonder and enthusiasm that preceded.

And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Imagine! You are no longer estranged from God.

You have been reconciled with him through the crucifixion of his Son.

He, your Lord, plans to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable to him; and you can stand in his presence, no longer as a sinner, but as one shining with the glory of the resurrection. The Lord’s sacrifice has given you a genuine, reliable hope in the reality of everlasting life. Hold it fast. Do not shift from it.

Ultimately, still overwhelmed by his experience of the risen Christ . . . Still enveloped in the wonder of a now living man who once was dead . . . Still blown away by a truth that remains on the edge of his consciousness . . . Paul proclaims the absurd as authentic: from death comes life, and I am part of that transformation.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known.

In conclusion he reminds his readers of the remarkable change which has taken place in the universe — a change which involves them as well as the Jews. Moreover, it is a divine plan which has been now been revealed to all, one not restricted to a few. Christ — the only one in whom there is hope for eternal glory — this Christ is in you. The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints.

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:15-27)