Day 62: The Christ

The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the name proper to Jesus only because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission that "Christ" signifies. In effect, in Israel those consecrated to God for a mission that he gave were anointed in his name. This was the case for kings, for priests and, in rare instances, for prophets. This had to be the case all the more so for the Messiah whom God would send to inaugurate his kingdom definitively. It was necessary that the Messiah be anointed by the Spirit of the Lord at once as king and priest, and also as prophet. Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet and king. CCC 436

In today's reading, the Catechism covers Jesus as the Christ or Messiah, the One promised to us centuries before His birth (Isa 9:5-6). As the Christ, Jesus reveals His mission of redemption and true nature. The Messiah is much, much more than a mere political figure or conquering general for Israel, but He came to set all of us free from the bondage of our sins so that we can have eternal life (Rom 6:23). Some Jews at the time thought the long-awaited Messiah would be a such a warrior general, freeing them from Roman oppression. Yet as He said, God had something very different in mind (Luke 17:20-21). As the Catechism Companion, Vol I states:

Jesus accepts the title of Messiah only when it is absolutely clear that he is the King crowned with thorns, the High Priest who is himself the sacrifice, the prophet who is rejected... He reveals the true meaning of his kingship when he is raised high on the cross. As King, he is also the Suffering Servant. (p. 128)

This icon shows Jesus reading in the synagogue of Nazareth. He is manifesting himself as the Christ, or Messiah, who would usher in the messianic age with signs and wonders (see CCC 438). (p. 129)