by Kevin Cody
Our Lady of Guadalupe pastor Fr. Paul Gawlowski chose the divinity of Jesus Christ for his Easter Sunday sermon during sunrise Mass on the beach just south of the Hermosa Pier.
The sermon might have been directed at skeptical Catholics who attend Mass only on Catholic holy days, such as Easter (Easter Lily Catholics) and Christmas (Poinsettia Catholics).
Christ’s resurrection, and the many miracles credited to Jesus are evidence of his divinity, though not necessarily proof, Fr. Gawlowski acknowledged, because Lazarus also rose from the dead, and miracles are subject to alternative explanations.
The best proof, Fr. Gawlowski said, is reason. He referred to 20th century English writer C.S. Lewis, who argued, “Either this man was and is the Son of God, or else a madman, or something worse.”
Contemporary accounts of Jesus describe him as reasonable, and so we can assume he was telling the truth when he said he is the Son of God, Fr. Gawlowski said.
As if on cue, a dog running along the ocean’s edge, stopped behind Fr. Gawlowski during his sermon, bringing to mind 19th century English poet Francis Thompson’s “The Hound of Heaven.”
The poem compares God to a hound patiently chasing a hare:
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me. ER
