2 posts tagged “jesus christ”
The world's Christians have begun the Lenten season in preparation for the Holy season of Easter and right on schedule a big name in the mass media market, The Discovery Channel, has produced a "documentary" purporting the discovery of what "could have been" the tomb of Jesus Christ and His family. Yes, His family including mother, wife, and son ... all may have been buried there with Jesus.
Notice the "could have been" and "may have been" -- yup . . . this claim is based on "solid statistical evidence". Huh? Statistics? Believe it or not the claim that this tomb could have been the tomb of Jesus and His family is based soley on the statistical probablility of the names on the ossuaries (small limestone "caskets" that contained the bones) occuring together in one tomb.
Another point that could be made -- this tomb was originally opened and studied in the late 70's/early 80's. Most of the archeologists of note are highly sceptical of the claims being made about this tomb.
Those who would love to see holes shot in the Christian belief in Jesus will love this story (as they have all the stories of this ilk), those whose faith is weak and are easily led astray will allow this story to become yet another nail in the coffin of their own belief, and for those who simply laugh at this stuff . . . well, we'll get a good laugh and look forward to Advent when the next huge "discovery" will come to light. I just can't wait!
Oh but what do I really think about this? One word - lame.
Of late the Baptism of Jesus has become more noticed by virtue of our late Holy Father, John Paul II's institution of the Luminous Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. I must admit that prior to that I never gave much thought to Our Lord's baptism.
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord in the Church's Liturgical calendar. On reflecting about this Feast Day as I prepared for work this morning I was a bit surprised at what came into my mind. What I began to think about was not so much Our Lord's baptism or my baptism or the significance of being baptized. What came to the forefront was a thought of thanksgiving that first I was born to a family who are Catholic and second that my parents did not fail in their promise to bring me up in the faith. Had it not been for their dedication in this respect I believe that my conversion of heart would have been very much delayed! As it is, I have my parents to thank for the foundation in my faith that subsequently played a very large role in my coming back to the Church in a conversion of heart. Yes, I'd attended Mass (though very infrequently while single), even received Holy Communion, but my faith was a cold as ice, my belief virtually non-existent, my heart did not attend to my faith but rather my actions toward my faith were the result of habit. This habit was formed by my parents whose influence informed my conscience. What my parents have done for me is, quite simply, provide for my salvation. But for my parents and the Holy Spirit I would have chosen my own path and stayed on it and most likely would have lost my faith completely or have left the Church for one of the popular evangelical Protestant faiths (to which I came dangerously close several times).
On this Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord I give thanks to God for the promise my parents made and kept.
