Why Did They do it?

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Why did they do it?

They gave of themselves, their wealth, their time, and their future. Why did they do it? They created and raised five children, made certain of their education from elementary school through college, provided food and clothing, and gave much of their free time to the children. All of this was accomplished during very difficult political and economic times; money was hard to acquire. What motivated the parents to sacrifice so much and, in some cases, to suffer for their children; children who often were difficult to manage and could be rebellious? Love is the only answer! The parents so loved their children that they would sacrifice their own personal well-being for “the kids.”  Yes, love is the only answer.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried,” exclaims the Apostles Creed. (Note – the reference to Pontius Pilate provides a historical connection to Christ’s passion and death – a time and place is established.) Why did he, the creator, allow himself to become the created and then undergo such humiliating sufferings? Yes, the only answer is love. God loves each one of us; He sacrificed his only son, having him undergo horrific punishments for us. As great is the love of human parents for their children, God’s love for us is inconceivably greater and its totality is beyond man’s understanding. The theologian Hans Urs Von Balthasar incisively commented, “What it means to bear the burden of the world’s guilt, to experience in oneself the inner perversion of a humankind that refuses any sort of service, any sort of respect, to God, and to do so in view of a God who turns away from these abominations – who can conceive of it?” Christ suffered for us, for love!

What were the reasons for Jesus Christ to suffer and die for us?  The answer is twofold – to provide a remedy for sin and to provide an example for our lives.  Sin is a defilement of the soul, which is removed by Christ’s Passion and death; Christ’s blood washed man of his sins, cleansing him. Christ’s charity and obedience to the Father are greater than the sin and disobedience of man. Thus Christ makes man friends with God once again; the gates of paradise are opened. The suffering and death of Christ is offered as a substitute for the punishment due to mankind for its sins. Christ is the perfect sinless offering – the remedy for sin – which God accepts on our behalf.

But God does not stop conferring gifts on mankind at the passion and death of Christ. He loves us so much that he provides continuing gifts in the sacraments to help us return to Him when we sin again, and again and again. The sacraments are the vehicles that strengthen and assist us to remain sinless and in communion with Him. Mankind has been cleaned, given the tools to strengthen itself, and promised help in keeping its soul clean and prepared for entering God’s kingdom. Will mankind use these many gifts or will it allow itself to succumb to its darker sides?

Thank you God for your love….a love that suffers for us! Man has a God who suffered for all of mankind.

Suggested Reading:

“The Treasury of Catholic Wisdom”, Edited John Hardon, S. J., published by Ignatius Press , Chapter on Thomas Aquinas, section on The Exposition of the Apostles Creed, Article 4. ( This section can also be found on the Internet at http://dhspriory.org/thomas/Creed.htm)

“Credo” by Hans Urs Von Balthasar, Section 4, published by Ignatius Press.

 

Conceived by the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary

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Conceived by the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary

Early in his life, the little boy learned to use his ethnicity to his advantage. His father’s family arrived in America from Ireland and his mother was of German heritage. Thus when the familes gathered together to celebrate their common heritage as Christians and Americans, the youngster would diplomatically answer any question about his ancestry with, “I am half Irish and half German, and all American,” thus winning affectionate nods from both sides of the family.  However, he would demonstrate his diplomatic and political skills by saying he was Irish when in the presence of his Irish family and similarly announce he was German when with his German relatives.  This flexible approach often brought rewards in the form of a small amount of cash or other gift. (It was perfect training for a potential career in politics.) However, this youngster could be moody and would occasionally protest a visit to his relatives by being uncooperative and annoying. On one occasion his Irish uncle offered him a baseball, something the youngster highly valued, if he would be cooperative and end his annoying complaints. The youngster would not relent his disturbing attitude and did not receive the baseball when he and his mother left his relatives to go home. His ego and self –centered attitude won the day, but he lost the valued reward forever.

Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit (God) and was born of the Virgin Mary. Very different from the youngster described above who possessed one human nature though sharing two nationalities, Jesus possessed two separate natures – one divine, one human. He was both God and human. His reason for humbling himself by assuming a human nature was to redeem man from his sins and to provide insight into his expectations of man.  God so loved man that he allowed himself to take upon himself horrendous suffering and a brutal crucifixion. Jesus in his human nature offered himself as the sacrifice to God’s justice for our sins and in his divinity he showered man with his mercy. Thus through his two natures, God’s satisfied his demands for justice and mercy. The gates of heaven were opened for mankind. Thank you Jesus!

However, despite Jesus’ love and sacrifices for man, man often acts in a similar manner to the moody youngster with bursts of ego and self-centered behavior.  Many among mankind will reject God, while others excuse the evil behavior in their life styles, thus failing to make use of God’s wonderful Gift of the divine life. Life on this earth is very short; it is a waste of this life to ignore God and forego the everlasting life with God.  Jesus offered mankind an inestimable gift – it is priceless – the divine life with Him. Why does mankind reject it to satisfy his ego or to realize some very temporary pleasures in this life?