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PAGE 5 — The Southern Cross, April 30, 198?
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REV. DOUGLAS K. CLARK |
Christology Revisited
During Lent, we reflected, in the “Heart Renewed
theological reflections published in this paper, on many
themes, among them the Church’s constant teaching re
garding who Jesus is. During this Easter season, when our
eyes are fixed on him in his risen glory, we might return to
those reflections for the sake of clarification.
We noted during Lent that the earliest stage of Christian
theology reflected on Jesus as:
, 1. “descended from David according to the flesh"
2. and “designated Son of God in power according to the
Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.’’ 1
This early Christology saw the earthly, crucified Jesus of
Nazareth as the descendent of David, and the heavenly,
risen Christ as “Son of God in power,” apparently from the
moment of his resurrection. But the question naturally
arose as to how to reconcile these two realities, the “Son of
David” with the “Son of God” or, as Rudolf Bultmann put
it, “the Jesus of History” with “the Christ of Faith.”
The simple, early viewpoint seen in Romans 1:3-4 seem
ed, by itself, to be inadequate even to St. Paul himself and
/ \ to other New Testament writers, because it seemed to im
ply that Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, is not iden
tical with the Risen Christ. So they reflected on the earthly
ministry of Jesus, to see if there were signs of his divine
Sonship (Messiahship) while he went about teaching and
healing.
1. The synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke) all
saw his divine Sonship in the ministry of the earthly Jesus,
especially at its beginning (his Baptism) 2 and at his
Transfiguration, 3 when JesUs’ relationship as Son to the
heavenly Father was made manifest to those present. In
deed, as the Church continued to reflect on the life of Jesus,
it saw more clearly that he always was the Son o£ God.
2. And the first chapters of the Gospel according to Mat
thew and Luke portray Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of
God, from the moment of his conception by the Holy Spirit
of the Virgin Mary. St. Paul, later in his life, speaks of the
eternal Christ’s emptying himself to take on our human
estate, only to be crucified, but then raised up and restored
to glory, in Philippians 2:6-11.
3. The first chapter of the Gospel according to John goes
even further and sees the eternal Word of God, who always
was, becoming flesh in Jesus and dwelling among us. These
last two passages present distinct but complementary
views: Paul sees Christ’s becoming human as an emptying
of divine status, while John sees it an imparting divinity to
the human.
The Church continued to reflect on the question, “Who is
Jesus” and on the basis of the biblical data, affirmed at the
Council of Nicaea (325 a.d.) that Jesus is “one in being with
the Father ; ” at the Council of Ephesus (431) the Church af
firmed that Jesus is and always was one person, although
with two natures (human and divine) as the Council of
Chalcedon (451) explicitly proclaimed. It is this teaching
which has been so nara ror many to accept without reserva
tion, partly because of a misunderstanding of the meaning
of the word “person.”
The Greek speaks of Christ’s two natures (“physein),
divine and human, as being united in a single
“hypostasis”—hence the phrase “hypostatic union.” The
Latin translation of “hypostasis” as “persona” has caused
problems, both for the Greeks (who have wondered why
“persona,” which literally means “mask” was chosen, in
stead of “substantia”) and for moderns, to whom “person”
tends to mean “personality.”
On the one hand, the Church is not saying that Jesus did
not have a human personality; he certainly did, as an
aspect of his human nature. But the hypostasis which holds
his divine and human natures together is by definition
divine. Thus when someone speaks of Christ as a human
“person” he is, willingly or not, commiting a Christological
error of a certain magnitude. That which holds the divine
and human together in Christ is his “person”
(“hypostatis”) and this “person” is divine. But his human
“personality” is unquestionable, even now as he sits in
glory at the right hand of the Father.
1. Romans 1:3-4.
2. Mk 1:9-11, Mt 3:13-17, Lk 3:15-18.
3. Mk 9:2-10, Mt 17:1-9, Lk 9:28-36.
Youth Rally In Augusta
Held On Palm Sunday
Over one-hundred teens from around the Diocese of Savannah gathered at Aquinas
High School, Augusta, Passion (Palm) Sunday weekend, to celebrate the World Day of
Youth proclaimed by Pope John Paul II.
Organized by Mr. Julian Heyman, Youth Minister of St. Mary’s on-the-Hill parish, the
rally involved the youth in six workshops each. In addition, on Saturday evening Fr.
Douglas Clark, Acting Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Savannah Diocese, led a
communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, with individual confessions
heard by priests of the Augusta deanery.
On Sunday afternoon, Heyman led a “Weird Olympics” featuring such events as a
javelin toss with toothpicks and a water balloon shot-put.
Fr. Clark, Fr. Allan McDonald, Associate Director of Vocations, and Bishop Raymond
W. Lessard addressed the participants at a wrap-up session, followed by a solemn pro
cession with palms to St. Mary’s Church, where the Bishop celebrated Mass, featuring a
dramatic reading of the Passion according to St. Matthew by a group of participants in
the rally.
St. Mary’s youth group hosted an after-Mass reception for all.
DCCW NOTES
BY SR. ROSEMARY
SULLIVAN, S.M.M.
“FOCUS”
From a simple letter, dated February
14,1984, addressed to the pastors of all the
churches in Harris County, has sprung an
organization called FOCUS. This stands
for Fellowship of Christians United for
Service. This is an inter-denominational
group of pastors and laity who feel the call
to break down the walls of indifference and
myth and to get to know one another while
serving needs in the County. Fellowship
has always been one of two principle aims
of FOCUS, along with service.
Several churches had been assisting the
needy with emergency food supplies, but
realized that isolated from one another,
their efforts were but a drop in the bucket.
Now, there is a common food pantry,
located at the Hamilton United Methodist
church which receives donations from
many churches and individuals. It is
within walking distance of the Department
of Family and Children Services. Social
workers who receive the requests for help,
are able to go personally to the church and
make up the bags of food immediately.
There are regular monthly meetings, ex
cept for the month of December. In that
month, we hold a Christmas Prayer Ser
vice for Peace in Hamilton Square. Attend
ed by members and friends of FOCUS it
provides a beautiful occasion for sharing
the Word of God, singing hymns together,
and joining in prayer for the large inten
tions of the world around us.
In the past, the meetings alternated be
tween predominately black and white con
gregational churches, as well as alter
nating between the various areas of the
County. This gave us the great opportunity
to become better known and to include per
sons who might otherwise have never met
FOCUS. More recently, we have been
gathering in one, central church, for the
purpose of increasing membership.
Another service project is the home
repair program. Small repairs are done by
volunteers in the homes of elderly or
disabled persons who have no other way of
getting these done. There are eligibility
guidelines, and some are also helped to
601 E. Sixth St.
Waynesboro, GA. 30830
Human Development
Dear Bishop Lessard:
This is to acknowledge with deepest
thanks receipt of your diocesan contribu
tion to the Campaign for Human Develop
ment.
We are grateful to you, your priests,
religious and lay people for this generous
support. Special thanks are due, as well, to
your Diocesan Director and staff members
for their help and cooperation.
By their generous support, the People of
God in your diocese give continued affir
mation to the bishops’ conviction as ex
pressed in their pastoral letter,
ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR ALL:
“Our experience with the Campaign
For Human Development confirms
our judgment about the validity of
self-help and enpowerment of the
poor. The Campaign, which has
received the positive support of
American Catholics since it was
launched in 1970, provides a model
that we think sets a high standard
for similar efforts.” (Para. 357)
We thank you for your leadership in
making the work of the Campaign, the pur
suit of justice, a reality not only in your
diocese, but throughout the country, as
well.
Reverend Alfred LoPinto
Executive Director
Campaign For Human Development
(The amount forwarded to the CHD office in Washington was $16,196. One-quarter of
the collection funded projects in the Savannah Diocese.)
make application to the Farmers Home
Administration for loans; to perform
larger projects.
Two years ago, Callaway Gardens,
under the leadership of president, Hal Nor-
thrup, donated a cottage to be used as a
Thrift shop. We had it moved to its present
lcoation in the town of Hamilton, on pro
perty owned by Ed Bunn. He graciously
lent its use to us at no charge. This Thrift
shop is the major source of funding for our
projects. Not only does it provide very low
cost clothing to people, but it gives us the
capability of carrying out many other
needed programs.
One example of this, besides the others
mentioned above, is the Puppet program
on child abuse. FOCUS volunteers made
the stage and curtains and “man” the pup
pets while a worker from DFACS talks to
the 2nd graders who are listening. The
theme is that it is “OK to tell” and situa
tions are dramatized recounting children’s
conversations with palymates and
teachers concering child abuse problems.
Last summer, FOCUS sponsored a sum
mer camp experience for pre-school
children who had never had any nursery
program, in order to prepare them for
school. Forty children from all over the
County were bused to Christ the King
church by school buses provided by the
School Department, in an unusual partner
ship. The teachers and aides were all
volunteers and lunches were provided by
different church and civic groups.
Now, FOCUS volunteers have become
involved in the literacy campaign, and in
cooperation with the Harris County
Library, are engaged in teaching persons
in need of such help. We hope to expand
this program in the future.
We feel that the Lord has smiled upon us,
and is guiding and strengthening us each
step of the way. There is more unity than
ever before and people of good will are
finding many ways to reach out and assist
those who have no one to care about them.
Many people wondered if anything would
ever come of FOCUS...we knew that if the
Lord wanted it, He would bring it about, if
we would only be open and cooperate. The
world is full of some wonderful
people...and many of them live in Harris
County...we know, because we have met
them!
(Sister Rosemary is Pastoral Assistant,
Christ the King Church in Hamilton.)