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MelanieM
23rd June 2010, 12:54 AM
A priest once told me that it is only a 'figure of speech' when we profess in the Apostles Creed that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Is this correct or does Christ literally sit at the right hand of God?
Matthew
23rd June 2010, 02:50 AM
God doesn't literally have a right hand. It refers to the power and glory of God.
MelanieM
23rd June 2010, 08:12 AM
Can you please give more detail?
DavidObeid
23rd June 2010, 02:25 PM
Hi Melanie,

When we speak of Our Lord as being "at the right hand of the Father" we don't mean that God the Father has a right hand and Jesus is sitting near it. It is a reference to Jesus being with, or co-equal ("along side") the Father in power and glory.
MelanieM
23rd June 2010, 05:53 PM
lovely! :)

Thanks guys,

God bless
DavidObeid
23rd June 2010, 11:17 PM
Melanie,

Some Calvinists latch onto the expression "sat down" or "sits" in describing Our Lord sitting at the right hand of the Father to be in reference to Our Lord now no longer doing anything to save us because "it was all done" at Calvary. Scripture, on the other hand, tells us that Our Lord is in heaven as our High Priest - presenting the Sacrifice He offered to the Father on our behalf.

It is both a sublime and humbling mystery that Our Lord gave us a way to enter into this offering to the Father by giving us the Mass.
MelanieM
23rd June 2010, 11:49 PM
Hi David,

This is from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

663 Henceforth Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father: "By 'the Father's right hand' we understand the glory and honour of divinity, where he who exists as Son of God before all ages, indeed as God, of one being with the Father, is seated bodily after he became incarnate and his flesh was glorified."

What does it mean by "is seated bodily?"
DavidObeid
24th June 2010, 12:02 AM
It means that Our Lord reigns in power and glory as both God and man. After Ascending to heaven Our Lord did not divest Himself of His human nature, but remains united to it. This, incidentally, is the meaning of the word "gave" in St. John 3:16.

"Seated" is in reference to the office of power and glory, not physically reclining.