The Resurrected Jesus?

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Jane5M

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I just went to Mass in another diocese in my home state. The church had a sculpture in place of the crucifix behind the altar. They had a pamphlet explaining the sculpture, part of which said that the Resurrected Jesus is neither female nor male, but both. Other parts of the explanation sounded truly “new age”. So, I am wondering if this is a form of heresy…or not.
 
Jane5M said:
I just went to Mass in another diocese in my home state. The church had a sculpture in place of the crucifix behind the altar. They had a pamphlet explaining the sculpture, part of which said that the Resurrected Jesus is neither female nor male, but both. Other parts of the explanation sounded truly “new age”. So, I am wondering if this is a form of heresy…or not.
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The Divine Nature is neither male nor female, but Jesus’ human body is male, and so he is still male after the Resurrection. I have never encountered anything claiming otherwise, or seen any commentary on it. But maybe somebody has something?
 
I’m not sure about “new age” but it certainly looks as though the pastor or the bishop, or both, have decided that “gender theory” takes precedence over Catholic and Biblical doctrine.
 
Jane5M said:
Resurrected Jesus is neither female nor male, but both.
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🤔 How can Jesus be “neither” and still be “both”? Perhaps they have discovered another mystery of the faith!
 
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A resurrected Jesus CANNOT replace the crucifix. A crucifix is required for Mass.

GIRM 308. There is also to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations.
 
I will post part of the pamphlet with their photo later today.
 
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Jane5M said:
They had a pamphlet explaining the sculpture, part of which said that the Resurrected Jesus is neither female nor male, but both. Other parts of the explanation sounded truly “new age”. So, I am wondering if this is a form of heresy…or not.
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The way you are describing it sounds as if it may be heretical, but I’m wondering…

Was it saying something like “the Word of God as the Second Person of the Trinity is neither male nor female?”

But post-Resurrection the Second Person IS a man.

I dunno, I would have to see this pamphlet and assess it myself to form a judgment…
 
A “resurrectafix” is not a crucifix but became trendy in the 1990’s and could be nice on Easter day, but an artisitc negation of crucifixion on all other days.
 
1Lord1Faith said:
How can Jesus be “neither” and still be “both”? Perhaps they have discovered another mystery of the faith!
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How can Jesus be both fully 100% divine and fully 100% human? Technically the Son of God is a 200% Person 😃

I would agree if somebody said “the Son of God is both male, and neither male nor female.”

Both male AND gender neutral / neither would be orthodox.

Saying Jesus is neither male nor female AND both male AND female however would be heretical.

The Son of God is gender neutral in his divinity, and masculine in his humanity - thus he is neither male nor female AND male simultaneously. But he is NOT female.

The same goes for the Father - he is both gender neutral, neither male OR female, and masculine in the way he’s revealed himself.

The only Person of the Trinity which could potentially be said to be both neither male nor female AND male and female simultaneously is the Holy Spirit. And that is shaky seeing as how our tradition refers to the Spirit generally either in a gender neutral or masculine form.

If women want to look to a strong female figure, look to both the Bride of Christ, the Church which is the Body of Christ and is most definitely feminine, and look to the ever Virgin Theotokos Mary, who is the Mother of the Son, Daughter of the Father, and Spouse of the Spirit.

What’s wrong with looking to the Church herself and Mary Immaculate as strong, divine female figures? Why impose something onto the nature of God which he hasn’t revealed, unless you don’t believe in the revelation he gave to us?
 
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Here is the photo and the “Theological Reflection”
Just a moment…I have to save and upload the file another way…
 
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Theological Reflection by Fr. Richard M Kingsley & Marilyn Gustin

The Sonoran Christ is a multilevel theological symbol. It is not
meant to be viewed as a simple, literal, representation of the
resurrected body of Jesus, Rather, it invites us to contemplate
broad realities of Christ’s unification and redemption of all
creation.

It is, and at the same time it is not, the Risen Jesus: For the Christ
not only incarnates and is fully revealed in Jesus, but is also
more than Jesus. The historical Jesus lived approximately 33
years; the Christ is eternal. Demonstrably manifested in time and
space, the Christ also transcends time and space. Authentic
Christianity flies on two wings: the historical Jesus and the
Cosmic Christ, the light in all things and the wounds in all
things.

Notice that this figure is not definitively male, as the Christ is
neither male nor female, but without gender as God is. This
archetypal figure symbolizes the coming together of the material
and the spiritual where God-in-Christ lives. The spaces
throughout the body of the figure suggest the pervasive Spirit
that gives it life, just as it is the Spirit that gives life to your
body.

The same Christ that was in Jesus is in us and permeates the
entire universe. The Sonoran Christ appears both transcendent
and grounded. Its arms are wide open, welcoming all to the
embrace of all-inclusive, unconditional divine love.

At its Center is a cross and rays revealing a heart that radiates
light and life and love in all directions, including and
surrounding all creation. Here we contemplate the crucified
Jesus. Here we enter into the depths of God’s love. All that can
be known of God is revealed in the crucifixion and resurrection
of Jesus the Christ.

As Jesus, raised by God, is suggested in this figure, we see his
wounds have been healed and transformed. We see that the Spirit
(in the form of a dove in his left hand) is given, so that as we
follow in his way of self-giving love, our wounds too will be
healed. We will share in the resurrection.
 
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Jane5M said:
I just went to Mass in another diocese in my home state. The church had a sculpture in place of the crucifix behind the altar. They had a pamphlet explaining the sculpture, part of which said that the Resurrected Jesus is neither female nor male, but both. Other parts of the explanation sounded truly “new age”. So, I am wondering if this is a form of heresy…or not.
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The 2nd Person of the Trinity from eternity isn’t male or female.

Jesus has a corporal body and he is a male both before and after the Resurrection.

Depending on what the pamphlet said, it was incorrect information being written by someone who has been compromised.
 
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That is blatantly heretical garbage.

There’s an array of gnostic and New Age heretical concepts there.

Garbage like that has no place in a Catholic Church…

I’m not sure what to tell you besides find an orthodox Catholic parish and report this heretical nonsense to the Bishop.
 
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Jane5M said:
For the Christ
not only incarnates and is fully revealed in Jesus, but is also
more than Jesus
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That right there is heretical.

What else could that mean except to be a denial of the hypostatic union of the Son of God and a denial of the full divinity of the Incarnate Son?
 
Jane5M said:
The same Christ that was in Jesus is in us and permeates the
entire universe. T
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This again seems heretical - the same type of heresy I just pointed out above.

He seems to be saying Christ is separate from Jesus - this is the original Nestorian heresy, worded in a New Age way.

This pamphlet seems to be brimming with both Arian and Nestorian heterodoxy, repackaged in New Age lingo.

The combination of the lack of a proper crucifix at the altar and this heretical pamphlet explaining the image they’ve placed in its stead is enough for me to recommend you don’t walk, but RUN to a different orthodox Catholic parish.

Also, you should immediately report this parish to the Bishop of that diocese.

I feel truly sorry for any parishoners there being led into heresy.

We need to pray for the pastor to return to holy orthodoxy and move away from any heretical ideas he holds.
 
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Jane5M said:
Notice that this figure is not definitively male, as the Christ is
neither male nor female, but without gender as God is.
Click to expand...
That seems to confirm my first reaction to your OP: “gender theory” has now taken precedence over Catholic theology.
 
It’s not my diocese, and from past experience, the bishop is rather “liberal” too. Unfortunately, my daughter and her family attend this church. The church wounded my sensibilities when, on Easter (of all times) they didn’t sing a proper Gloria! There is a more orthodox church just about as far from them…but for some reason they wish to stay there.
 
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Are you sure this church is in communion with Rome? The are various “Catholic” churches which aren’t in union with Rome that do things such as ordaining women, etc.
 
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