THROUGH UNTRUE
It is often said that history is prophecy. Understanding the past can help us anticipate the future. Yet, history is not always a reliable predictor, as it is shaped by countless unforeseen variables. One such variable, which can dramatically alter the course of history, is divine intervention. In today's Gospel reading, which recounts the presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:22-40), we see that when God intervenes, He rarely provides a clear roadmap to navigate the uncertainties ahead. He provokes us to believe that His ways are not our ways, and His wisdom infinitely surpasses our human knowledge.
When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple following the law of Moses, a man named Simeon took the infant in his arms and prophesied how Jesus would embody God's intervention in the history of Israel. Simeon declared that Jesus was “destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted” (Luke 2:34). Indeed, to the religious and political authorities of the time, Jesus would become a “stumbling block” because His life and teachings directly challenged their deeply entrenched beliefs, customs, and traditions.
Jesus’s reinterpretation of the Old Testament stood in stark contrast to the rigid literalism embraced by the religious scholars of His day. He revealed that what appeared to be contradictory truths about God were, in fact, complementary ways of understanding His unchanging essence. God cannot be fully grasped by the limited linguistic and conceptual frameworks we use to define Him.
In his opening address at Vatican II, St. Pope John XXIII highlighted the distinction between divine reality and our understanding of it: “The deposit of faith, contained in our sacred teachings, is one thing, while how these truths are articulated—while preserving the same meaning and judgment—is another.”
Jesus’s teachings also directly contradicted the Jewish understanding of worship. He emphasized mercy over ritual and sacrifice, prioritizing love over the rigid interpretation of the law. His message of grace, forgiveness, and inclusivity stood in opposition to the exclusivist attitudes of those who prided themselves on being the "chosen people."
Furthermore, His crucifixion profoundly challenged the Jewish conception of the Messiah. The Jews believed that the Messiah would be clothed in power, majesty, and invincibility. But Jesus entered the world as a helpless infant, utterly dependent on others. He preached as a poor man, stripped of wealth and privilege. He died as a criminal on a cross, mocked as a total failure. Yet, it was through this extreme vulnerability that He won our salvation. The cross of Jesus calls us to surrender our desire for control and embrace a deeper, more trusting relationship with God.
Today, we are called to become, like Jesus, signs of contradiction in our world divided by intense factionalism, false creeds, and moral relativism. Instead of being swept away by the waves of complacency, we can choose to stand up for what is right and good. Heal instead of doing harm. Praise instead of criticizing, encourage instead of driving others to despair. Smile and laugh out loud. Bless, and do not curse, Pray instead of worrying. Choose forgiveness over vengeance. Though these actions may feel like a daily crucifixion, St. Paul writes: "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Ultimately, by trying to be signs of contradiction, we experience hope. Jesus who confounds our expectations, opens our eyes to the possibility of something greater and better, something beyond our imagination. Just as His disciples could not have anticipated His resurrection, we too can find hope in believing that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Corinthians 2:9).