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Redemption - It's Two Dimensions
When the "fullness time" arrived God decided to bring about the
redemption of the world. To accomplish this greatest event in
the history of the world it was absolutely necessary to have
unity between the two dimensions of life, namely, the spiritual
and the material. We see from the very beginning of the drama of
Redemption, the working together of the spiritual and material
in perfect unity.
The Angel Gabriel is sent by God to the
young woman Mary to announce to her His plan for the Redemption
of the world. He respects her free will and will not act without
it. He needs a mother for His Son who will become the God-Man
Jesus Christ. Mary readily accepts this great honor and
spiritual grace from God but questions its material possibility.
"How can this be done since I do not know man?" The Power of God
comes over her and she conceives God's Son. No time is wasted,
for God immediately puts His plan into action. He will need a
herald to prepare the way before His Son. Mary travels to see
her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and introduces the baby Jesus to
His cousin John. Elizabeth recognizes this miracle and salutes
her cousin. Mary responds with the joy in her heart with the
everlasting "Magnificat"
Mary returns to her home in Nazareth
and awaits the further direction of the Will of God. She was
engaged to Joseph. But will he now reject her? How can he
understand this great mystery? God Himself will solve the
problem and Joseph accepts his position from the hand of God.
God will continually use the physical world to accomplish His
spiritual designs.
Jewish scriptures and prophesies
foretell the birth of the Messiah in the City of David. God will
use the tax of Caesar Augustus to bring Mary and Joseph to
Bethlehem and there Jesus is born.
To Nazareth, to the Temple to present
Jesus the Son of God and the Son of Man to his beloved Father.
The spiritual joy and blessing of Simeon mingles with the sad
prophetic vision of material suffering for this child of God and
Mary. The spiritual soul will be pierced with the material sword
of suffering. The narrative of Redemption continues at a rapid
pace. What was considered a loss for three days was but a
reiteration of His purpose of life on Earth. "Did you know that
I would be in my Father's House?"
We see the entire Redemption of mankind
is both spiritual and material. The soul of man is redeemed from
sin and his body will share in its own redemption when it will
rise in Resurrection.
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