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