Expert: Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM, L.Th. - 3/27/2007

Question
I am a Catholic and wonder how Jesus can be God when he says "the father is greater then I'. Its troubling me that I question this when I know I should believe it as a Catholic. How do you protect against doubts. Also, I question how Jesus can be God an Bhudda or Mohammed is not. WHat is the best method of overcoming these doubts. Also, when I pray the rosary can I feel like Mary is praying with me since she can't heal its God who can through her prayers.  

Answer
Dear Michael:

Thank you for your questions.

As to the first question about "the father is greater than I": That phrase comes from John 14:28. Jesus is talking to his disciples about his departure. The Navarre Bible Commentary gives a good explanation:

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Jesus Christ, as Only-begotten Son of God, possesses divine glory for all eternity; but while he is on earth this glory is veiled and hidden behind his holy human nature (cf. John 17:5; Phil 2:7). It only shows itself on a few occasions such as when he performs miracles (cf. John 2:11) or at the Transfiguration (cf. Mt 17:1-8). Now, through his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven Jesus will be glorified -- in his body also -- as he returns to the Father and enters into his glory. Therefore, his departure from this world should be a source of joy for his disciples; but there do not properly understand what he is saying, and they are saddened because they are more aware of the Master being physically separated from them than the glory that await him.

When Jesus says that the Father is greater than he, he is thinking about his human nature; as man Jesus is going to be glorified, ascending as he does to the right hand of the father. Jesus Christ "is equal to the Father in his divinity, less than the Father in his humanity" (Athanasian Creed). St. Augustine exhorts us to "acknowledge the twofold nature of Christ--the divine, by which his is equal to the Father, the human, by which he is less than the Father. but the one and the other are together not two, but one Christ" (In Ioann. Evang., 78, 3).
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Thus, Jesus was speaking from the perspective of his human nature when he made that comment.

The primary solution to doubt is twofold:

1) education
2) faith

If you do not understand something, then seek to understand. You have done that in asking me this question. There are answers for your questions.

We also have to realize that not all aspects of our religion are completely understandable; that is why some things are called mysteries. For example the mystery of how Jesus could be both fully man and fully God. We can understand some aspects of these things, but there will always be some things that we will just not understand.

We need to accept that and believe anyway.

There is more than enough things in our Faith that can be understood, that can be demonstrated as True, and that can even be proven with evidence to give the benefit of the doubt to the few things that remain mysteries.

Focus on those things that you can understand and can know and allow the mysteries to be mysteries. Accept the mysteries with faith (the faith of believing without knowing).

As to who is God, well to begin with Buddha and Mohammed do not claim to be God. They are men and never claimed to be anything other than men. Jesus does claim to be God.

Of course, anyone can make the claim. So why do we believe Jesus when he makes the claim? Because he proved it. The ministry of Jesus on this earth was all about proving his divinity--the miracles and healings were his "credentials" that were witnessed by thousands of people. Proof of the divinity of Jesus is also proved in that some 160 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah all come true in Jesus and in no other man. Proof is in the witnesses who actually saw Jesus transfigure, who saw him after his resurrection, and who saw him ascend into heaven.

All of this has been documented by eye witnesses. Thus we have documentary evidence, the testimony of witnesses, the changed lives of countless souls, the very fact that the Catholic Church is still around after 2000 is a kind of proof. There are many, many ways to see that Jesus is God. Read the Bible and you will see it. Look into your own heart and you will know it.

In the Rosary, Mary is praying with you. Why wouldn't she pray with you. It is not necessary for her to have the power to heal, it is only necessary for her to have the power of compassion and to join you in your prayers. She is a "pray-er" the same as you.

Seek to understand, accept what cannot be understood, and offer your doubts to God asking him to help you with your doubt. Seek faith and ask God for faith.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary