great-ing
"You have a greater." —Luke 11:31, 32
Jesus is greater than Solomon, the wisest person on earth (Lk 11:31). Jesus is greater than Jonah, who successfully led 120,000 Ninevites to repentance in one day (Lk 11:32). Jesus is greater than all the wisest, richest, most powerful, and most successful people in human history all put together.
However, many Christians don't believe Jesus is greater and greatest. They give "lip-service" to Jesus' supremacy, but deny it by their actions. For example, how many people choose a little extra sleep, a cup of coffee, or a little breakfast over receiving Jesus in daily Mass and Communion? How many prefer TV to communicating with Jesus in prayer? Do we show that Jesus is the greatest by how we spend our money? Our actions concerning money, time, and lifestyle speak louder than our words. By our actions, we often show a doubting world that we ourselves are doubtful about Jesus' supremacy.
We proclaim that Jesus is greater and greatest by loving Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength (Lk 10:27). If we deny ourselves (Lk 9:23) and obey Jesus, we affirm that Jesus is greater than us. This is a major statement because ultimately we are the pretenders to Jesus' throne. If we accept Jesus as greater, we must realize that we are lesser. When we want Jesus to increase, we must decrease (Jn 3:30). To rejoice in His lordship, we must rejoice in our servanthood.
Prayer: Jesus, I put Your name above my name, bend my knee in submission to You, and proclaim You as Lord (Phil 2:9-11).
Promise: "Through [Jesus] we have been favored with apostleship, that we may spread His name and bring to obedient faith all the Gentiles, among whom are you who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ." —Rm 1:5-6
Praise: James considers Jesus the CEO of his business while he sees himself as an employee.
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 3, 2009
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.