Vigils Reading – 4th Sunday ORD

A MOST SURPRISINGLY MIRACLE OF MERCY

From a commentary by St John Henry Newman1

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At the time appointed Christ came forth from the Father and showed

himself in this external world, first as its Creator, then as its teacher, the

revealer of secrets, the mediator, the effluence of God’s glory, and the express

image of his person. Neither cloud nor image, emblem nor words, are

interposed between the Son and his eternal Father. No language is needed

between the Father and him, who is the very Word of the Father; no knowledge

is imparted to him, who by his very nature and from eternity knows the Father

and all that the Father knows. Such are his own words, No one knows the Son

but the Father, neither does anyone know the Father except the Son, and

anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Again he says, Whoever has

seen me has seen the Father; and he accounts for this when he tells us that he

and the Father are one, and that he is in the bosom of the Father and so can

disclose him to humankind, as he was still in heaven, even while he was on

earth.

Accordingly the blessed apostle draws a contrast between Moses and

Christ to our comfort. The Law, he says, was given by Moses, but grace and truth

came by Jesus Christ. In him God is fully and truly seen, so that he is absolutely

the way, and the truth, and the life. All our duties are summed up for us in the

message he brings us. Those who look towards him for teaching, who worship

and obey him, will by degrees see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God

in his face, and will be changed into the same image from glory to glory, And

thus it happens that people of the lowest class and the humblest education may

know fully the ways and works of God; fully, that is, as human beings can know

them; far better and more truly than the most sagacious of this world from

whom the gospel is hidden.

Religion has a store of wonderful secrets which no one can communicate

to another, and which are most pleasant and delightful to know. Call on me,

says God by the prophet, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty

things of which you have no knowledge. This is no great mere idle boast, but a

fact which all who seek God will find to be true, though they cannot perhaps

clearly express their meaning. Strange truths about ourselves, about God, about

our duty, about the world, about heaven and hell, new modes of viewing things,

discoveries which cannot be put into words, marvelous prospects and thoughts

half understood, deep convictions inspiring joy and peace, these are a part of

the revelation which Christ, the Son of God, brings to those who obey him.

Moses had much toil to gain from the great God, some scattered rays of the

truth, and that for his personal comfort, not for all Israel; but Christ has brought

from his Father for all of us the full and perfect way of life. Thus he brings grace

as well as truth, a most surprising miracle of mercy.

1 Journey with the Fathers – Year B – New City Press – 1999 – pg 76-77.3