SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON, RELIGIOUS (MEMORIAL)

This is the spirit of the antichrist.

Many have speculated over the centuries about the “antichrist,” referred to here and in several other places in John’s letters. But the word simply means someone who is opposed to Christ. In John’s time, that included people who claimed to be Christian but who rejected the truth that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. These were the false teachers he was writing about—those who didn’t acknowledge “Jesus Christ come in the flesh” (1 John 4:2).

Why did these people struggle so much with a God who became a human being? Perhaps it’s because they could not imagine an all-holy God who would stoop so low as to take on our flesh. Some thought all physical reality was evil, so it was inconceivable to them that God would do such a thing. Instead, they believed that Jesus came only in the “form” of a human body.

But the Incarnation—God becoming man—is one of the central mysteries of our faith. It is at the heart of the Creed we recite at Mass, and it is the basis for our belief in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist. We might be tempted to view physical reality somewhat as these false teachers did—as tainted in some way. And that could lead us to think of ourselves primarily as souls who will one day be freed of their bodies to enjoy a “pure” union with God in heaven forever.

That view fails to take into account two important truths. First, because God is all-good, everything that he created is good. As we see in Genesis, he is delighted with his creation; he even calls it “very good” (1:31). Original sin corrupted our human nature and physical reality, but that never was God’s design or intention.

Second, Jesus didn’t come in the flesh to save just our souls. If he had, he wouldn’t have risen bodily and then ascended bodily into heaven. When Jesus comes again, we too will be resurrected, and we will see Jesus—God and man.

The Incarnation redeemed us—all of us, body and soul. As we look forward to our future destiny, may we always recognize the goodness of God’s creation!

“Jesus, I believe that everything you have made is good.”

Psalm 2:7-8, 10-12
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
1 John 3:22-4:6

WORD AMONG US