Living the Life of the Paschal Mystery Part Two

Living the Life of the Paschal Mystery

Part 2 of two parts

“Adhering to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, to the apostolic traditions, and to the consensus of the Fathers,”  we profess that the sacraments of the new law were all instituted by Jesus Christ  our Lord.”  (CCC 1114).

“The book of Revelation of St. John, read in the Church’s liturgy, first reveals to us ,”A throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.”  “the Lord God.”  It then shows the Lamb, “standing, as though it had been slain.”  Christ crucified and risen, the one high priest of the true sanctuary, the same one, “who offers and is offered, who gives and is given.”  Finally, it presents  “the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” one of the most beautiful symbols of the Holy Spirit.”  (CCC 1137).

From the earthl;y symbol of water we find the very action of God’s method of bringing mankind from sin to an eternal life with him.  

Look at the flow of water which is the perfect element that purifies, forgives, and washes away the guilt of us all.  

“On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as scripture says:  Rivers of living water will flow from within him.”  (Jn 7: 37 - 38).

Sacraments of the Church are like a river that flows without ending.  Everything it’s consensus touches life grows and changes the environs of their blessing.   So it is when the general population in the Church are touched by a sacrament their life absorbs another moment of God’s grace, unfelt, unknown through a mental option, but the strength to make a change through the Holy Spirit who dwells within the recipient.  

“In human life, signs and symbols occupy an important place.  As a being at once body and spirit, man expresses and perceives spiritual realities through physical signs and symbols.  As a social being, man needs signs and symbols to communicate with others, through language, gestures, and actions.  The same holds true for his relationship with God.”  (CCC 1146).

When considering the power of nature and the tremendous havoc it can produce on a man when there is no way to avoid its destructive force, we are always at the mercy of God and his ability to quell the might of a storm.  “On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”  A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.  Jesus was asleep on a cushion.  They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”  He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”   The wind ceased and there was great calm.  Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have faith?”  (Mk 5: 3, 37 - 41).  

Signs taken up by Christ.  In his preaching, the Lord Jesus makes use of the signs of creation to make known the mysteries of the kingdom of God.  He performs healings and illustrates his preaching with physical signs or symbolic gestures.  He gives new meaning to the deeds and signs of the OLd Covenant, above all to the Exodus and the Passover, for he himself is the meaning of all these signs.  (CCC 1151).

Throughout the life and examples of Jesus Christ, before but not excluding his Passion, we see the real meaning of the Paschal mystery that was and is now the reason for the Incarnation and our ultimate salvation.  

“When the Church celebrates the mystery of Christ, there is a word that marks her prayer:  “Today!”  a word echoing the prayer her Lord taught her and the call of the Holy Spirit.  This “today” of the living God which man is called to enter is “the hour” of Jesus’ Passover, which reaches across and underlies all history:  (CCC 1165). Life extends over all beings and fills them with unlimited light.  Therefore a day of long, eternal light is ushered in for us who believe in him, a day which is never blotted out:  the mystical Passover. (footnote to 1165).  

Ralph B. Hathaway