This page was added
Oct. 22, 2003
Homily 19 October 2003
By Fr. Hathaway FSSP
Mater Dei Latin Mass Community

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord


 We have finished with the first article of the Apostle’s Creed which states Catholic belief in the First Person of the Blessed Trinity,  “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.”  Now we begin the first of six articles on the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  The second article of the Apostle’s Creed professes Catholic belief in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, our Savior.  This is our topic today.

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity become man for the redemption of the world.

Recall that after Adam’s sin, God promised to send someone to restore the friendship between God and man.   Adam could not say, “I am sorry” and repair for his crime.  The sin of Adam was against God, and only God could satisfy for the injustice committed.  Suppose Adam were a baseball coach who, in a heated moment, tackles the pitcher of the opposing team.  Later, in a cool moment, Adam could apologize and be forgiven... albeit after paying a fine.  Now suppose Adam tackles a policeman.  Here, too, he could be forgiven although he’d visit the slammer.  Even if Adam were to tackle the president he could be forgiven although he’d spend more time in jail.  A man can repair for his fault to a fellow man because each shares the same nature i.e., both are rational creatures.  A coach, a policeman, a president are all men.  But if a man, a mere creature, offends his Creator, there is no foundation for reconciliation.  Of himself, man can not satisfy for an injustice to God; only a being equal to God can satisfy for the injustice against God,... and for this purpose did God send His only begotten Son into this world. (Jn 3:16)

In essence, this is the Second article of the Apostle’s Creed.  But we will go deeper.   We will speak now on the Person and nature of Christ... which many Catholics do not properly understand.  (Fr. Baker S.J. and the material heretics at Gonzaga University.)

After Christ established His Church and ascended into heaven various heresies (false teachings) arose concerning Christ.  In defending the faith, the early Church held numerous ecumenical councils to define true Catholic belief; five of these councils are especially helpful on knowing the Person (who someone is, rational individual) and nature (what something is) of Christ.

Against Arian heretics, the First Council of Nicea in 325 defined that Christ is truly God, “light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made” as we say in the Nicene Creed from this council.  The Arians denied the divinity of Christ and falsely taught He was only a kind of a demiurge, a created god, and special son by adoption.  The Mormons and Jehovah Witness cults are modern day Arians.

Against Nestorian heretics, the Council of Ephesus in 431 defined that Christ is one Divine Person.  The Nestorians spread the false teaching that Christ incarnate was not one Divine Person but two persons, one human and one divine. 

Against Monophysite heretics, the Council of Chaledon in 451 defined that Christ has two natures, one human and one divine.  The Monophysites falsely taught that Christ had only one nature, the human nature having been suppressed by the Divine nature.  Some Eastern Orthodox still hold this teaching including the Copts, Syrians, and the Jacobites. (Fr. Hardon’s Dictionary)
 The Second Council of Constantinople in 553 further defended the Church against the Monophysites (one nature) and Nestorians (two persons).  At this council, “Hypostatic Union” was coined to identify the two natures of Christ in His one Divine Person.  ‘Hypostatic Union’ may also be used to identify the relationship between the soul and body of man.  

Against Monothelite heretics, the Third Council of Constantinople in 680 defined that Christ has two wills, one human and one divine.  The Monothelites denied that Christ has two wills and falsely taught that Christ had but one common will and a common activity (operation).

These five Councils formally and infallibly teach Catholic doctrine on the Person and nature of Christ.  Drawing from the Council of Chalcedon, Fr. John Hardon summarizes what Catholics must believe concerning the Person of Christ in the following way.  (Fr. Hardon tape series)

We believe that Christ assumed a real human body, not an apparent body; Christ was born in the flesh like any man born into this world.  (Vs. Gnostics and Docetists who believe matter is evil.)

We believe that Christ not only assumed a real body but also a rational soul.  Christ has a divine and a human mind; divine and human will. (Vs. Arianism)

We believe that Christ has two natures, one divine, one human, which are so united so as to form one individual; Christ is one Person, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. (Vs. Nestorianism)

We believe that in the Person of Christ each of His two natures remains unimpaired, distinct, and separate; neither is hindered by the operation of the other which is to say, each nature possesses its own natural will and its own natural mode of operation; they are not mixed, confused, or changed.  (Vs. Monophysitism, ‘one nature’ and Monothelitism, ‘one will.’)

We believe that in becoming man, Christ was and remains true God, one in nature with the Father Almighty.  As God and as man, Jesus Christ is the natural Son of God.  (Vs. Adoptianism)

We believe that even as man, Christ is absolutely sinless; Christ never did sin nor could He sin because Christ is God.  (Vs. Modern heretics and Hollywood’s Last Temptation of Christ)

We believe that whatever the Person of Christ did or does, was or is, has been done simultaneously by both natures, although in a different way, and this applies not only to what Christ was and did 2,000 years ago in Palestine, but also to what He is and continues to do in every century in the Most Holy Eucharist.  (Vs. Protestantism)

The second article of the Creed states Catholic belief in Jesus Christ as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who is uniquely the Son of God and Lord.  Christ is true God and true man; He is one Divine Person; He has two natures, two wills, two modes of operation.  This is important. Scripture contains many apparent contradictions i.e., “I and the Father are one” and “the Father is greater than I.”  Such statements are properly understood when it is recalled that Christ, one Divine Person, speaks thus either in reference to His Divine nature or human nature; His Divine activity or human activity.

Nor, lest we forget, recall that this same Christ died for our sins, saving us from eternity in hell.  Christ is our Divine Savior, both in His Presence in heaven but also in His Presence on earth. He is owed the same measure of reverence in the Blessed Sacrament as we can only now hope to give Him for all eternity where He sits at the right hand of the Father Almighty.




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