The Source and Summation of All

St. John the Revelator calls our Lord Jesus Christ, “the Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World” (Revelation 13:8). St. John the Baptist focuses our attention: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). St. Paul says of Christ that God “chose us in him before the creation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).

Christ is the Word, the Logos of God, who is with God from eternity, and who indeed is God (John 1:1). St. Peter tells us, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake” (1 Peter 1:20). The author of Hebrews says, “Christ has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). The End is in the Beginning, and the Beginning is in the End.

God made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-10) 

The Incarnation, the coming of Christ into the world, is the unveiling of God’s eternal mystery and purpose. He is the union of all in heaven and on earth, and the fulfillment of time — it all comes together in him. The Cross and Resurrection is not merely an event in time but it is the end of time. All of time is in it. The Creation and Consummation of all things coincides in Christ crucified and risen.

The Sacrifice of the Lamb was not a reaction to sin but the eternal revelation of divine Love at the heart of Creation. The Cross was not an afterthought but the eternal plan of God to “recapitulate” all Creation in Christ. This is what Lord Jesus was speaking of when he said,

Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all to myself. (John 12:31-32) 

The Beginning and the End are one in Christ, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Creator and the Consummation, the Source and Summation of All Things. Let us then give thanks to the Lord, “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).

The Foundation of the World and the End 
of the Ages are One with the Cross and 
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who is 
the Source and Summation of All.