Learn by Topic: awesome

In today’s Gospel from the Mass (Luke 5:1-11), a powerful example of the awesomeness of Jesus is recalled: (more…)

Today’s Gospel reading from the Mass (Luke 4:14-22) offers an example of the Awesomeness of Jesus:

[14] And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country.  [15] And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  [16] And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; [17] and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

[18] “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

[19] to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

[20] And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. [21] And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”   [22] And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

From this, it is clear that Jesus Christ was a PR (public relations) Genius (more…)

As the Son of God, Jesus Christ had Divine Brilliance, for He is the Light of the World (John 8:12).

But many men today are blind to the awesomeness of Jesus’ Divine Brilliance, so it’s not a surprise that many men are casual in their faith.

It’s easy for men to miss just how awesome Jesus Christ is because of the difficulty in understanding what is happening in the historical context of the Gospels and being able to relate the events of the Gospel to modern times.

Here is one way to begin to open one’s self up to cooperate with the Grace of Christ and re-ignite one’s hunger for faith:  Begin to read scripture with the belief and intent to see the awesomeness of Jesus.

“Only Jesus is Awesome” –  Here is a three step process to grow in awe of Our Lord Jesus Christ: (more…)

St. John pointing to Christ – Murillo (1655)

Today’s reading for the Mass is the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel (John 1:18). And what a reading it is!

The Prologue is perhaps, word for word, one of the most powerful, breathtaking, poetic and theologically-packed passages in the Bible.  Of course, it is focused, as it must be, on our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s not possible to offer a full exegesis on the Prologue in a short post (or a long post, for that matter!); instead, John’s use of “The Word” will be briefly reviewed.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1).

There is a lot here, but here are some essentials that amplify the complete awesomeness of Jesus: (more…)

12-year old Jesus in the Temple – Albrecht Durer (1497)

This Sunday the Church celebrates the mystery of the Holy Family with a focus on Luke 2:41-52: When Mary and Joseph lose Jesus and then find Him in the Temple.

The story is every parent’s nightmare: Mary and Joseph lose Jesus.  After spending the Passover in Jerusalem, the Mary and Joseph leave with a large group of kin to return to Galilee, assuming that the 12-year old Jesus is with them.

Imagine the panic: “We have lost the Son of God!  We have lost the Son of Man!”  Poor Mary and Joseph; this must have been quite traumatic.

But after a day’s travel, they realize that Jesus is not with them.  They take another day to return to Jerusalem  and one assumes spend another day searching for Jesus.   They finally find the 12-year old, astounding the most learned teachers in Israel in the Temple.  When asked why Jesus has caused such anxiety by staying behind, He replies: “Did you know know that I must be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).

As with all actions of the Savior, the finding of Jesus in the Temple has profound and mysterious insights that point to the awesomeness of Jesus Christ.  Mary and Joseph lose Jesus for three days, fearing the worst and find Him in the Temple, which Jesus calls “His Father’s House”.  This prefigures the Passion where Mary and the disciples lose Jesus for three days, fearing that He is dead, but then find that Jesus has been resurrected and will now dwell forever with the Father.

Whose life, as a 12-year old, offers predictions that replay in the future?

The story of finding Jesus in the Temple is an awe-inspiring mystery!

Those who encounter Christ are awed by Him.  For some (e.g. the Magi), their awe leads to conversion and worship of Jesus.  For others (e.g. Herod), their awe causes them to rebellion and to embrace Satan.

Herod embraces Satan fully when he orders the slaughter of the Innocents (Matt 2:16-18).  Jimmy Akin offers a short tutorial on the evil of King Herod.

What Child is this, who strikes fear into great kings?  The one Lord Jesus Christ.

To grow in faith, Man must grow in awe of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Every thing that Jesus does is “awesome”; if we don’t realize the awesomeness of Jesus in some detail of the Incarnation, we are missing something.  Each event in Christ’s life can be meditated upon; and each yields great insight into the awesomeness of Jesus Christ.

For example, the Gospels give us details about the circumstances of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.  Why?  We find that details matter!

Did Jesus choose to be born in Bethlehem?  If so, why Bethlehem?

Father Ryan Erlenbush offers a compelling answer to these questions which point to the awesomeness of Jesus.  

Myopia in the Modern World

To a disturbing degree, Modern Man has become blinded by science.  In a few generations technological advances have dramatically changed how humans live.  Today, Man in the developed world lives with sensory overload: media (movies, television, internet, video games, music) and ever-advancing technology (computers, smartphones, gadgets).  Men have become fascinated with shiny things, myopic with short attention spans, idolizing the material.

This modern myopia has resulted in the loss of a sense of the Divine.  One clear example of modern myopia is pervasive use of the word ‘awesome’.  The mundane or trivial is routinely labeled as ‘awesome’.  But when everything becomes ‘awesome’, nothing is ‘awesome’.  The First Commandment declares that only God is to be worshiped and warns against worshiping false idols; becoming blinded by material things and using sacred words to describe the mundane is a form of idolatry. “Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God” (CCC 2113).

Seeing Clearly – The True Definition of Awesome (more…)