By Fr. Glenn Jones

Ah … humanity’s hubris … our refusal to believe that there may be things beyond human intellect … a byproduct, perhaps, of being unexcelled by any other (known) creature. Certainly our human capacity has yet to reach its limits, but limited it must be. Like computer memory, our own “memory” and computing capacity is finite—even collectively. Just as cattle are incapable of higher-level mathematics (other than “cow-culus”—yuk, yuk), there is a point in which our minds will simply hit a wall. Like a juggler, we’ll only be able to keep so many balls in the air at once.

Encouraging our hubris is much entertaining science fiction—stories in which we humans evolve to the level of near gods. Indeed, if one were able to interview lower animals, we might appear to be so already. Imagine the proverbial ant wandering out of his community’s nest in a city park and looking up at a skyscraper. “Wow!”, he thinks. “Only a god could do that!” Totally beyond his ability to understand or conceive. But gods we hardly are.

This realization is self-evident to the theist, for to have infinite potential would mean capacity to equal God Himself in omniscience, and thus become God, which is absurd. The Christian theist recalls scripture … oft quoted: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

We humans are quite limited because our senses only allow us to perceive corporeality—and not even all of that (e.g., dark matter). Would the non-theist, then, argue that this limitation excludes even the possibility of non-corporeal beings, as a blind man might discount the existence of stars in the sky? Does our inability to perceive necessitate non-existence? Obviously not. But, if all people were blind, and a single person was born with sight, would they believe him about the existence of stars? Doubtful. Absent perceivable evidence, many likely would disbelieve, and those who did believe would necessarily have to take the witness’ testimony on … faith.

So … what if the people lived on a perpetually-clouded world? And … one night … a small opening appeared, and several glimpsed the stars briefly until it closed again. That is the position of the Christian: some glimpsed the divine, followed by testimony of witnesses who, despite disbelief and even persecution, testified. Especially in this season of Easter, the scoffer might contest: “Resurrection from the dead? Really? Oh, c’mon!”

It can be difficult to concretely defend history that Christians accept as part of their heritage, because the vast bulk (but not all) is from Christian sources. But, of course … that’s what one would expect—much like the bulk of New Mexican history is by native authors. After all, two millennia ago as today in which almost everyone fancies himself an author (whoops; self-accusation there), and certainly not everyone was literate, not to mention pen and paper weren’t available at the local Walmart. And yet … gallons of precious ink were spent writing about Christ, Christians and Christian history. Something was driving that vast expenditure of time and money by so many people.

A historical fact which cannot be denied is the rapid spread of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond (such as India, where St. Thomas purportedly spread the Gospel and whose memory remains much venerated there). This expansion upended millennia-old religious perceptions of the world. And while monotheism existed with Judaism, it didn’t really take off until Jesus. And take off it did … like wildfire. All based on the teachings of Him who otherwise was a theretofore unknown, uneducated common workman from a despised little town in a Roman vassal state … He even being barbarously executed among criminals per a howling mob of His own people. Hardly a person one would select as the centerpiece, catalyst and motivation for a worldwide religious movement … unless something unexplainably miraculous actually was witnessed to verify His claim of supernatural influence and existence. 

Christians might also cite many miracles—naturally-unexplainable events—which occur, but not being repeatable (hence “miracle”), such events—even those verified by Vatican-sponsored but independent scientists and doctors—are often dismissed without investigation. “I do not understand how that could have happened; therefore it could NOT have happened” is the implicit declaration. Not very scientific … but very modernly dismissive of even the possibility of the “non-corporeal” divine—power beyond our own ability. Are we so sure of our absolute superiority? Even modern Christians often “de-divinize” Jesus by discounting miracles reported in the Gospels, even to explaining Him away as a “good teacher” only … conveniently removing obligation to be faithful to that teaching. 

Jesus’ disciples went to death testifying to the veracity of their witness, for no benefit to themselves other than continued fidelity, despite torture and eventual death—affirming their sincerity. So … though we modern Christians did not witness, we consider these things and choose to believe, strengthened by the Holy Spirit and heartened beyond words by the resurrected Jesus’ declaration to the apostles: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29)

“Ah Lord GOD! It is thou who hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thy outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for thee…” (Jeremiah 32:17)

Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.