If only! We say these two words regretfully when we acknowledge that had we been in possession of some important information when making a decision we might have acted differently. We can use these words, too, of the Pharisees and scribes of today's Gospel. "If only" they had been more open to the person they were challenging they might have received him better. In the first reading St.Paul gives us an almost breath-taking sketch of the person they were so angry with that, later, some of them plotted to kill him.

Book after book would be needed to bring out the full riches of Christ, "the first born of all creation", introduced to us by Paul in these six verses.

Paul's Christ is the one who calmly explained to his challengers that something dynamic and world-changing had occurred on his entry into history. He suggested to them that the only reasonable reaction to his coming among them was an attitude of rejoicing and unburdening. The system had changed. They were not on their own anymore. They were no longer caught in the double bind of the scourge of self reproach if they didn't live up to the "law" of love and the danger of complacency and pride if they succeeded in meticulously fulfilling all its obligations.

"If only" they could have welcomed with relief "the first born of all creation".