Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Jesus, the centre of existential peripheries

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Jesus, the centre of existential peripheries

Pope Francis often talks of the peripheries and the need to go out to them, outside of our comfort zone to minister to those on the edges, those on the outskirts of society. We see Jesus himself giving us the example of this when dealing with the unclean, tax collectors and prostitutes.

Pope St John Paul II our great philosopher Pope, would like to recall the words from Gaudium et Spes where is says that only in Christ can man discover his true identity. Christ reveals man to himself.

These two images led me to reflect on the title of this post. That Jesus Christ is the source and centre of our being, he recreates us anew, moulding us to his Sacred Humanity. This same Jesus who revealed himself to us in stages through the covenants, still reveals himself in the "poorest of the poor" as St Mother Teresa used to say. This great mysticism of hers to see, touch and feel Jesus in the poor - is how we also need to view Christ in ourselves when going through depression, anxiety, breakdowns, existential crises. For on that existential periphery is also where our Divine Bridegroom, the Lover of Humanity reveals himself today.

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Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.