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Wednesday 4th Week Easter
St. Luke’s Institute
April 29, 2015
JESUS, IMAGE OF THE
FATHER ++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Paul
says that Jesus is the icon, the image of the unseen God, of the Father
Ø
In
today’s Gospel Jesus proclaims, “Whoever
believes in me believes not only in me, but also in the one who sent me …
Ø
“And whoever sees me sees the one
who sent me”
JESUS, SACRAMENT OF
GOD +++++++++++++++++++
Ø
This
is a strong statement of what we might call the idea of Jesus as the sacrament
of God,
Ø
That
is, the visible, palpable sign of he Father we do not see
Ø
Elsewhere
in John’s Gospel Jesus calls himself the way, the sheep gate, the door, etc.
which all suggest the same kind of use of a sign
ALL POINTS TO GOD
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Everything
about R faith points 2 the Father, 2 G
Ø
Church
w/ all its ritual, customs, & activities is sometimes referred 2 also as 1 great
sacrament, a sign which exists to point to and bring us to God
Ø
The
pope, ministers, assembled faithful, sacraments, practices of Christianity are
all meant to be these pointers, aids to our union with God
WE AS POINTERS AND
BRIDGEBULDERS ++++++++++
Ø
One
of the titles given the pope is pontifex
or pontiff which means “bridge builder”
Ø
Everything
in our religious practice is meant to be a bridge to God
Ø
Instead
of a bridge, we have in the past been a wall, a dead end, an obstacle or a
barrier
Ø
Insofar
as members of the Church, ourselves included, do not point beyond to the
Father, we can be obstacles or barriers for others
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Possibly
an examination of conscience is in order on how we use the Church and its rites
and how we ourselves function as signs of God’s presence in our world
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
