Reflecting on the Lord

First published in 1954, The Lord is a deeply moving work that has edified millions of believers. Monsignor Guardini acknowledged in his preface how difficult it is to write a "study of Jesus Christ." Nevertheless, his profound reflections help one to capture a glimpse of both the Person and the message of Our Blessed Lord.

The Lord is divided into seven main parts: "The Beginnings;" "Message and Promise;" "The Decision;" "On the Road to Jeru-salem;" "The Last Days;" "Resur-rection and Transfiguration;" "Time and Eternity." Each in turn is comprised of smaller chapters that focus intently on some specific event or aspect of Jesus’ life.

Running throughout this book is a sincere reverence for the Savior, manifested in a confession of the Church’s abiding faith in the divinity of the Messiah. Sadly, more than a few authors today agitate for a totally different understanding of Christ on the part of the Church (as if that were possible, given the straightforward Christological dogmas of the first centuries). These theologians and other writers propose that Mary’s Son was primarily a "good man" (sic) who gradually came to realize His unique relationship to the Father and His correspondingly special mission to share God’s Word with the people of His day. These scholars assert that the long-cherished truth that Jesus of Nazareth is of the same substance as the Eternal Father is completely out-of-line with modern Scriptural exegesis and, therefore, must be summarily rejected.

However, this rationale is vastly at odds with Monsignor Guardini’s. Instead, he steadfastly professes what the Church professes. "There is only one true Jesus Christ: the God-man of full uncrippled Christian belief" (page 62B). The Logos, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity became incarnate and lived among us.

There are innumerable spiritual gems within these pages. One which I found not only fascinating but also replete with hope for the disciples of Christ who are searching for a stronger friendship with the Lord is the distinction between comprehension and belief. In discussing the generous, Holy Spirit-inspired commitment of Our Blessed Lady to obey the Almighty come what may, Monsignor Guardini contends that Mary did not always have full comprehension of all that she was asked to do, yet she believed whole-heartedly. "Comprehension (for Mary) came only with Pentecost. Then she understood all that she had so long reverently stored in her Heart" (page 14).

While this valuable insight may not be original to Monsignor Guardini, it remains, nonetheless, most helpful for the Master’s followers. There is plenty I do not understand in life, yet that need not stifle my faith and trust in our beneficent God. I still believe, even though I do not grasp what the Lord is doing.

Each reader will surely glean some spiritual assistance from this author’s pen. This powerful meditation on the life of the Redeemer makes for excellent reading. But, even more, the time-honored beliefs presented herein are to be prayerfully pondered. Monsignor Guardini has done Christians everywhere a great service.

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(© Copyright 1998, As translated into HTML for Catholic Information Center on Internet by Jill Gooler 9/19/98)