14 October 2019 - signed and delivered

Saint Callistus I

Today's Readings

(Audio)

and there is something greater than Solomon here.

and there is something greater than Jonah here.

There have been wise men and great preachers throughout history and across the world. To some extent we are willing to listen to such people. We even travel to the ends of the earth to seek their wisdom. We change our ways when confronted with their teacher. Jesus is greater than the greater preacher, wiser than the wisest that ever lived. He won't permit himself to be seen as just another prophet or teacher and because of this many prefer to simply ignore him entirely. Others disingenuously twist his teaching to fit the syncretist mold, as if Buddha, Mohammed, and Jesus were all actually saying basically the same thing. But while Buddha, Mohammed, and others pointed to their teaching, Jesus pointed toward himself.

Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

Jesus taught, it is true. But ultimately what he taught was himself, the way, the truth and the light. He taught the path to being united with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. He himself was that path. He didn't simply give a sign. His life was itself a sign that efficaciously conveyed grace.

established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,

There is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Some of us have made our peace with this abstractly. But when it comes to the priority of Jesus in our lives and in our hearts we still treat him as one among many. Our solutions to the problems we face day to day tend to come from our minds, from our intuitions, from advice or even pressure from others. Less frequently do we consult Jesus. Yet he is certainly wiser than we are, wiser than our friends, more readily available than our intuition, and yet less insistent than the bullies of the pulpits of the world. He is meant to be greater not just among the figures of the world but within our hearts. He is meant to reign in us but he will not force himself. Let us invite him to sit upon the thrones within us, thrones always meant for him.

for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (see First John 4:4).

It is much better to not compete. Jesus is much better at running the universe generally and our lives in particular than are we.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.