Quia in ipso inhabitat omnis
plenitude divinitatis corporaliter
Tuesday of the Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordered Time (September 6th, 2011)
Rev. Mr. Michael Taylor
In our first reading today, Paul writes, see to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of God corporeally.[1] So often today, people will try to speak of God without speaking of the Christ, as if one can be conceived without the other. This however is not possible. Christ Jesus is the logos,[2] the rationale of all creation, the one in whom all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.[3] There is no other saving God besides Christ. We see this woven throughout the gospels, especially in John. There it is written that Jesus is the gate of the sheep [4] and again it is written that I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.[5] In the Acts of the Apostles, it is written that there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven give among men by which we must be saved.[6] In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it is written that man is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.[7] In the first letter of the Beloved Apostle, it is written that no one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.[8] Thus, we cannot separate the Christ from the Father. If one tries to speak of God without speaking of the Christ, then they speak not of the one God, but of a lie. “For the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.” [9] Where the Father is, there too is the Son, who is made manifest by the Spirit. For the Son came to give glory to the Father, as is our Lord affirmed when he said, I honor my Father [10] and the Father gives honor to the Son, as Jesus said, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies, of whom you say that He is your God.[11] To give affirmation of the Son is the glory of the Holy Spirit, as is written by the Apostle, no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit [12] and again but when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness to me.[13] So then there are three persons but one God. And this unity of divinity dwells among us in the Blessed Sacrament, wherein is contained the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
And this most Blessed Sacrament is entrusted to the successors of the Apostles, the bishops of the Catholic Church. These apostles are the ones spoken of in today’s gospel. There unity in the sacrament is affirmed, for it was the teaching of the Eucharist in the sixth chapter of John that lead many disciples to cease in their following of Christ. When asked if they, the Apostles wanted to leave, Peter, prince of the Apostles, replied, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.[14] So now there is unity, founded in Christ, blessed and made present in the Most Holy Eucharist founded in one Church. Thus, we can say there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of us all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.[15] May God be praised and exalted above all forever. Amen.
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