An Easter Homily
One of the first phrases out of St. Peter’s mouth on the Day of Pentecost, the day in which the Holy Spirit filled the disciples of Jesus and they broke out in tongues and prophecy, is “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” What does that mean, and why was the Pentecost experience so compelling that three thousand were baptized that very day?
First of all, remembering that the Acts of Apostles was written in common Greek, now called Biblical Greek, understand that “Lord” is our translation of Kyrios. That word is commonly used of Jesus risen from the dead. In fact, St. Paul, writing to the church at Philippi, passes down to us an inspirational hymn affirming that “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be ripped off.” That Greek word “harpagmos” is used nowhere else in the NT, and it means, in secular Gk, “robbery.” So Jesus was, as Son of God, equal to the Father, but desired to earn that equality by following the Father’s plan. He poured out everything–His knowledge, His dignity, His very human life-blood to the last drop on Calvary. He held back nothing so He could give it all to us through rising from death and drawing all to Himself in the Sacraments. In so doing, He really did “earn” His title, “Lord,” which is the name of God, in Hebrew, YHWH. May His holy Name be Blessed forever.
So God the Father has made Jesus through His life, death and Resurrection equal to Himself not just by eternal generation, but by the plan of Redemption. He is Lord, as the old hymn proclaims. But what, in God’s plan, is the meaning of “Christ,” or, in Hebrew, “Mashiah”?
You’ve heard that to the first-century Jew, “Mashiah” or Messiah meant a grand military leader who would take up His sword against all the enemies of Israel, especially the Romans, and lead an army of humans and angels to conquer in blood and gore and bring all the world under His dominion. Jerusalem would become the “true pole of the earth,”as the Psalmist sings. Lots of loot for the victorious soldiers.
But that opinion, especially held by the religious fanatics called “Zealots,” involved a misreading of the prophets. Here the lead prophecies should have been those of Isaiah and Ezekiel, and even Jeremiah. The Messiah would have two complementary tasks, and both would be essential to His mission from God.
First, since Israelite worship was consistently prone to falling into error of doctrine or practice, Mashiah would purify that worship, making it true “right praise” or orthodoxy. He would then cleanse and perfect the temple, so that the people would constantly raise their voices to the One True God, and, instead of sacrificing mindless animals, would, in the words of Daniel, offer themselves in service and sacrifice. Then, it would be possible for all the earth and heaven to be filled with God’s glory.
But, if that were to happen, Mashiah must also bring justice and peace to the whole earth. That means circumcision of the human heart, cutting away all shreds of selfishness, self-aggrandizement and human promotion of their own good feelings over rational, other-centered just conduct.
To do both of these things, Jesus would offer His body–His mystical body of believers–as the new Temple. That Temple would be filled with justice because it would be comprised of all those humand having the Spirit of Jesus.
So as we consider this Solemn Feast of Resurrection, remember that in the risen Christ, Mashiah and Kyrios, the new Temple, the new Creation has been launched, we are an essential part of that Creation and Kingdom, and Jesus is our King, with authority over heaven and earth. That means our challenge is to live that reality day by day. May His grace be our Life forever.
