The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-09-28
REV. J. M. CLEARY
Delivers Sermon on the Mystery Of
the incarnation.

Delivers Sermon on the Mystery Of
the incarnation.
Taking for his text, What think
We of Christ? Whose Son is He"
Rev. J. NJ. Cleary of the Incarnation
church preached an impressive SER
mon last Sunday morning, saying in
part:
THE Catholic Church has taught as
an integral part of its creed, binding
on all the members of its fold, tnat
Jesus Christ is true God and true
man. The mysterious union Of the
divine nature of Jesus Christ with his
human nature, is known as the mys-
terry of the Incarnation. The nature
of God existed from all eternity. The
human nature in Jesus Christ be-
came united with the divine, by the
power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb
Of Christ's virgin mother. Hence the
mother of John the Baptist could
greet the mother of Christ as the
mother of my Lord The Word as
st. John writes, that is the Son Of
God, was made flesh and dwelt
amongst u.s.
The marvellous union of the nature
of God with human nature in the one
divine person, is a stupendous mys-
terry, which human reason cannot
fully understand, only admire and
honor. I know that the Son of God
became man. but how do not KNOW
said the great st. John chrysostom.
I'VE know that spirit and matter,
body and soul, are united in one per-
son, in man, and this union of body
and soul constitutes the human be-
ing. How this union is formed, we
are unable to explain. It is unreasoa-
able, unscientific, to reject truth for
the sole reason that we may not be
able to explain it. Critics Of the dog
ma of the Incarnation will find much
more perplexing difficulty in attempt
ing to explain the marvellous power,
the transcendent character, the en-
during influence in the world Of
Jesus of Nazareth, on the assumption
that he was the highest type of hui
! mainly simply, without the divine ma
ture.> ..ss"e
HE taught doctrine that discip-
lined human nature, never flattered
or cajoled it. He demanded such I'M
divided allegiance to himself as never
before was demanded, and His de-
mand has been honored by all classes
and conditions of men for nineteen
hundred years. He that loveth father
and mother more than me is not
worthy of me- Only divine being
could exact such allegiance. To di-
vine being only would such devoted
allegiance be given.
Great men could inspire most loyal
personal devotion in the hearts of
those who loved them, but after these
great men have gone from the scenes
of their triumphs. their names are
no longer endowed with that potent
charm that will inspire their most
ardent admirers, generation after gen.
GRAFTON, to sacrifice friends and for-
tune, home and homes most alluring
charms simply to testify to their love
for the greatest of human heroes
But for the sake of Christ, thousands
upon thousands, centuries after his
death as malefactor, have with Joy
and gladness spurned every allure
ment of life, have left all things and
followed Him. This remarkable fact
In the worlds history bears eloquent
testimony to the divine character and
the divine power of Christ the Lord
THE most bitter enemy of Christ
and His Spiritual kingdom has never
dared impeach the veracity of Jesus
Of Nazareth. All generations have
bo.ne testimony to the spotless pur-
isy OF His life. to his unselfsh zeal
for mans welfare, to his gene.ou
sympathy for suffering and sorrow
He sought not His own glory. This
sublime character. this unequalled ex-
ample of humility and love for all
mankind, asserted most solemnly that
He and the Father were one. and that
all power was given to him in heaven
and on earth. He raised the dead to
life, by His own divine power. Only
a divine being would have called ou.
at the tomb of one who had been four
days dead, Lazarus come FORTH
1.-The believing Christian must
therefore think of Christ, as Peter
thought OF Him, that. he is the Son
of the living God. He must think Of
him as St. Paul thought of him that
He is the blessed and only mighty
the King of Kings and the Lord OF
Lords.'"