Look with the Eyes of the Soul - Reflection Ascension Sunday

The Acts of the Apostles is written to Theophilus. No one knows who Theophilus was; but, there was a later Theophilus. He was the Bishop of Antioch (second century) and considered one of the early church’s great apologists.

He wrote this (paraphrased): 

If you say, "Show me your God," think about this:

If you look with the eyes of the body then you will perceive only earthly objects whether white or black, well-proportioned and symmetrical or dis-proportioned and awkward…

The appearance of God is ineffable and indescribable; and, cannot be seen by eyes of flesh. All have eyes; but in some eyes are blinded and they do not see the light of the sun.

But if you look with eyes of the soul that it is when we are able to behold God. God is seen by those who are enabled to see Him when the eyes of their soul are opened:

For in glory God is incomprehensible, in greatness unfathomable, in height inconceivable, in power incomparable, in wisdom unrivaled, in goodness inimitable, in kindness unutterable.

Most men have the eyes of their soul blinded by their sins and evil deeds.

The reason I share these words of the early apologist is today’s scriptures. For some reason, some do not follow the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Instead they only baptize in the name of Jesus. The reasoning, the apostles were not baptized this way. Nowhere does it say the apostles baptized this way.

It is claimed, the words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew were made up when priests and monks were hand writing the Bibles in the early church to match the sacrament.

Yet, Catholics and most Christian do baptize in the Trinitarian formula not just in the name of Jesus as found in the Acts of the Apostles.

First, it is what Jesus tells us. Teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you.

Second, it is a baptism just like Jesus’. When Jesus was baptized by John, the Trinity was present. “The Son is baptized, the Father speaks, and the Spirit descends.”

Even in the Acts of the Apostle when the Deacon Philip baptized the people of Samaria, Peter and John were sent there to pray and lay hands on them for they had only been baptized in the name of Jesus and not yet received the Holy Spirit.

And, Jesus promised his followers they would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. 

Those who say the early church baptized only in the name of Jesus seems to have forgotten that Act of the Apostles.

The Church baptizes in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit because is has always been led by the Holy Spirit to followed Jesus’ instructions. It is found even in the earliest Church manual, the Didache, written before the Bible. 

It is believed to have originated before most of the Gospels were written. The earliest portions issued by an Apostolic Council of the twelve headed by Peter and James at the Church in Jerusalem. These early instructions outlined a Trinitarian Baptism and the Eucharist.

There were also other Christian Churches other than the Roman Catholic Church. The Coptic Church states that their church began in 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark became the first Pope of Alexandria. They baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The Thomas Christian of Kerala India (Malabar Christians) can trace their Church to the Apostle Thomas. These Christians ecclesiastically, liturgically, and linguistically represent one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. They baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Yet, despite all these truths, many will look for God with eyes of flesh blinded by sin. If the eyes of your soul are open, as the angel said, then why are you standing there looking at the sky?

The Church looks with the eyes of the soul at Jesus’ words, follows his instructions, and believes his promise. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

In glory God is incomprehensible, in greatness unfathomable, in height inconceivable, in power incomparable, in wisdom unrivaled, in goodness inimitable, in kindness unutterable.

Be good, be holy and preach the Gospel by the way your live your life and love one another. Amen.