March 04, 2004
Lent 2004: The Natures of God
This is from Fulton Sheen's Life of Christ as he discusses the trial of Jesus just before the Crucifixion. I thought it was very compelling:
Our Blessed Lord had two natures: Divine and human. Both were on trial and on totally different charges. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Simeon that He was a "sign to be contradicted." The judges could not agree as to why He should die; the could only agree that He must. The religious judges, Annas and Caiphas, found Him guilty of being too Divine; the political judges, Pilate and Herod, found Him guilty of being too human. Before the one, He was too unworldly; before the other, He was too worldly; before the one, He was too heavenly; before the other, too earthly. From that day on, His Church too would be condemned on contradictory charges, either for claiming to be too divine by some, or else for being too human by others. Condemned on contradictory charges, He was sentenced to the symbol of contradiction, which is the Cross.
God bless,
Jay Posted by Jay at March 4, 2004 10:52 PM | TrackBack
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Comments
Sheen is the bomb. I think it is wise for us to truly meditate on the sufferings, both spiritual AND physical, which Christ endured. Obviously, because of Gibson's film, the latter is much easier to do now given a concrete image to focus on......however the spiritual agonies are I think more rewarding.
Posted by: savrx at March 5, 2004 10:27 AMThat's a great quote and I appreciate your sharing it. I've seen that book at the local library. I must read it now. No Bishop Sheen book has disappointed me yet.
Posted by: Patrick Teasley at December 4, 2004 06:41 PM
