As a priest of the St. John Society—a community that honors St. John Henry Newman as its intellectual patron—Fr. John Poodts reflects on Newman’s sermon “A Particular Providence Revealed in the Gospel,” which profoundly influenced his vocation to the priesthood. The sermon exemplifies the power of Newman’s prose, moving hearts through his deep understanding of Scripture and his ability to reveal God’s personal love made manifest in the concrete reality of the Incarnation. Drawing on the insights of the early Church Fathers, Newman develops the idea that Divine condescension is more than God’s mere lowering of Himself to human nature; it is His full entrance into humanity, making Himself completely accessible to us. In this condescension, we begin to grasp the nature of God’s love and are invited toward a more perfect union with the Divine. When this union between God’s nature and our own is perfected within the soul, only two realities remain self-evident: myself and my Creator. As we experience God’s love more deeply, we begin to sense our definite purpose and mission. When God touches our hearts through personal influence, we cannot help but share the Good News through that same instrument. The true transformation of the world occurs person to person—heart to heart.
To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.
