“this purpose have I come”
What was Jesus’ purpose? Jesus came to save souls. “Christ wants to save the whole man, body and soul; in fact, he heals the flesh so it may become a sign and means of salvation to the soul.” [1] He also brings the “Good News” of His saving grace. “Christ’s mission is that of spreading the Gospel, of taking the Good News to the very ends of the earth, through the Apostles [2] and Christians of all times. This is the mission of the Church, which thus carries out Our Lord’s command: Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole of creation. [3]” [4]The Church continues the mission of Jesus and thus preaches, sanctifies and governs. This threefold mission corresponds with the baptismal call to be a prophet, priest and king.
The first reading this Sunday is about Job being at his breaking point. He feels immense suffering and pain, but is always looking for the Lord even in this time of great trial. “This lament, a glimmer of hope in a sea of woe, is not in vain. God will stoop down to man and send him a Savior to alleviate his suffering and to open his heart to greater hope.” [5]
Why does Jesus need to preach? How else would He spread the Good News? By performing miracles, He shows that He is the Messiah, but by preaching, He speaks of what He is about. He preaches to educate and invigorate the person’s soul. “By his preaching he enlightens minds, reveals God’s love, leads to faith, gives meaning to affliction, and shows the way to salvation. By his miracles he heals aching bodies and expels demons.” [6]
Does preaching mean judgment? Why does judgment seem to always have a negative connotation? No one wants to appear judgmental and so we say things like, “I’m not judging, I’m just saying?” There are things that we can judge and things that are left for God to judge. In every act there is the action itself. Actions we can judge and because we can judge we can preach or teach about. Actions can be right or wrong, black or white. Behind every action there is a person’s intention (their consent or will) and a person’s circumstance (knowledge and situation). We cannot judge these intentions or circumstances because this is left to God alone. We can only judge intent and circumstance if the person themselves shares this information with us. Many will say that we cannot judge a woman who goes to have an abortion. We can judge the action because it is intrinsically evil. We cannot however, judge her intent or the circumstances. That is why we have to be open to talking with and loving people.
For example, in the court of law, a judgment is made about whether an action is legal or illegal. The jury and judge are interested in how much the accused knew about what they were doing and what their intention was. We too will be judged not only on our actions, but also on our intent and knowledge. This is why a mortal sin has three conditions: a grave issue, full consent, and full knowledge.
Why doesn’t God take away all of our suffering? Even when we ask God, not all suffering is taken away. This does not mean that He is not there with us in our time of difficulty. “When he does not take suffering away, he teaches us how to bear it with hope and love, so that it may bear the fruit of eternal life.” [7] We should offer up our pain and suffering to the Cross in order to bear the fruit of eternal life.
As stated earlier in the lesson, Jesus’ work for salvation and bringing the good news did not stop with His death and resurrection, but was passed on to the Apostles, the Church, and each of us.
Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus || Spoken Word
How is the mission of Christ passed on to the Church? Jesus left us the Church so that His mission to save souls would continue until He comes again. When Jesus said it is finished, His Church was just beginning. In what ways is Christ and His Church one?
Who is the Church? The Church is every one of the faithful, which means all, who believe in the Catholic faith. We can first see this exemplified by the Apostles. In the second reading this Sunday, St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “If I preach the Gospel that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me, and woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” [8] The Gospel’s mission has been handed down to all of us. If we have the same passion and love for Christ as Saint Paul did, then we will take advantage of every opportunity to pass on the truth. Many in our lives are asking the same question that Pontius Pilate asked, “What is Truth?” One of the spiritual works of mercy is to instruct the ignorant. If we fail to share the truth and a person sins because of it, we are assisting in their sin through both concealment of the truth and our silence of the truth. What fears do we have in preaching the truth?
What are we supposed to do with the Gospel? “Every one who has been privileged to receive the Gospel must feel a sense of responsibility toward those who have not had this favor, and must do everything possible to make them share in it.” [9] We should have great urgency to share the Gospel with zeal.
What if people reject the Gospel? Remember that when Jesus preached the Gospel, He was rejected as well. People who heard the message from the mouth of God Himself rejected it, so do not feel discouraged by someone who rejects the truth. “We cannot expect to please everybody by diluting the claims of the gospel so as to satisfy conventional wisdom.” [10] As St. Paul said, “We speak not to please men, but to please God.” [11]
What if we fail to bring the Gospel to others? If we fail to spread the Gospel, we fail in our mission to save souls. If we are living out our salvation, we should do all that we can to bring others to salvation as well. We are called to preach the Gospel like Christ and St. Paul did, not out of arrogance or thinking that we are better than others, but out of necessity and obligation to God. We should want all people to be with God in heaven for all eternity. “There is nothing colder than a Christian who is unconcerned about the salvation of others…Do not say ‘I am unable to help them’, for if you are truly a Christian it is impossible for you to make such an admission. The properties of natural things cannot be denied them: the same thing happens with this affirmation, for it is in the nature of a Christian to act in this way…It is easier for the sun to fail to give its light or its heat than for a Christian to cease to give light and warmth; it would be easier for light to be darkness. Do not say that the thing is impossible; what is impossible is the opposite … If we order our conduct aright, everything else will follow as a natural consequence. The light of Christians cannot be hidden; a light that shines to brightly cannot be concealed.” [12]
[1]Divine Intimacy Vol. 1 pg. 205
[2] Mark 3:14
[3] cf. Mat. 18:19-20
[4] In Conversation with God 3, 35.1
[5] Divine Intimacy Vol. 1 pg. 205
[6] Divine Intimacy Vol. 1 pg. 205
[7] Divine Intimacy Vol. 1 pg. 205
[8] 1 Cor. 9:16
[9] Divine Intimacy Vol. 1 pg. 206
[10] In Conversation with God 3, 35.3
[11] 1 Thess. 2:3-4
[12] St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, 20