Lord of History

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky
HERALD Columnist
(From the Issue of 4/11/02)

For most of us, the common point of reference for historical events is the American point of view. We are accustomed to thinking about history as a series of interesting events usually involving famous wars and battles. From the American Revolution to the war against terrorism, we are interested in history because of the effect it has on our lives. But how should a Christian view history?

Like all of the Jews, the disciples of Christ on the road to Emmaus had a common history that promised a Messiah. They were horrified and discouraged by the crucifixion of Christ precisely because they "were hoping he would be the one to redeem Israel." With the crucifixion of Christ, their hopes were dashed. They knew that history, as the saying goes, would be written by the victors. And Jesus Christ would now be numbered among the vanquished.

It took the risen Christ himself to give these disciples a history lesson. Jesus asks them, "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then the Gospel reveals that "beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he [Christ] interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures." In the risen Christ, the meaning of history has been changed forever.

The meaning of historical progress is often defined by the accumulation of material goods, unrestrained technology, and sexual license. But progress defined in these ways condemns man to a life of selfishness, resentment and, ultimately, endless strife. How easy it is to become a slave to one’s passions in the name of "progress!"

From the point of view of the Resurrection, the definitions of historical "progress" and "decline," and "good" and "evil" no longer depend upon whether a particular nation grows or declines in wealth and influence. True progress must be measured by an individual’s or a nation’s relationship to the risen Christ. The closer the relationship, the greater the progress in human dignity. The accumulation of worldly goods, for example, is "progress" only to the extent that these goods are used in the service of the Gospel.

Yet some have mistakenly held that the proclamation of the Gospel threatens the freedom necessary for human progress. The answer to this objection is quite easy. Christian faith cannot be forced. During his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord warned the sword-wielding Peter that "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword." During his trial, he told Pilate, "If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting. ... But as it is, my kingdom is not here."

Nevertheless, the true failures of Christians in history must be acknowledged. But the failures of Christians only prove that the love of the risen Christ remains the standard of authentic Christianity: "Greater love than this no man has than to give up his life for his friends." The love of Christ is a sacrificial love given in freedom, validated by the Resurrection.

The historical fact of the Resurrection confirms that all of history has been redirected to the Kingdom of Christ, a kingdom that "does not belong to this world." If Christ is risen, everything has changed! All of history has the glorified Christ as its center, measure and guide. Therefore, as St. Paul writes, we need to "seek the things that are above" and evaluate our lives and our history against the teachings of the risen Christ.

Fr. Pokorsky is administrator of St. Peter Mission in Washington, Va.

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