who are you?
"How awesome are you!" —Sirach 48:4
Elijah was fantastic. By his word, he stopped the rain for three-and-a-half years. This brought the kingdom of wicked Ahab to its knees. Elijah also brought down fire from heaven and purged Israel of 850 false prophets. He raised a dead man, anointed Elisha, and was taken up to heaven "in a chariot with fiery horses" (Sir 48:9).
Elisha was fantastic too. He was "filled with a twofold portion" of Elijah's spirit (Sir 48:12). "Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life. In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds" (Sir 48:13-14).
Christians are even more fantastic than Elijah and Elisha, for the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than they (Mt 11:11). Despite our weakness, we are greater than Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Judith, Esther, et al, because we are in Jesus. In fact, although we are definitely not greater than Jesus, He promised us that we can do greater by far than He did (Jn 14:12) because He is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father and we are living the life in the Spirit.
You are holy, royal, and priestly (1 Pt 2:9). You are a child of God, redeemed by the blood of His Son, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. You are fantastic in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Father, thank You for creating, recreating, and choosing me. I love myself because You first loved me (see 1 Jn 4:19).
Promise: "If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you." —Mt 6:15
Praise: Deacon Rick was involved in prison ministry for a few years when he discerned the call to begin an RCIA program. Ten prisoners joined the Catholic Church in the program's first year.
Reference: (Learn How to Teach the Bible in the Power of the Holy Spirit at our retreat July 19-22 and you will learn to love the Word, share the Word and live the Word. This teaching will be the beginning of a deeper love of God and the Bible. Call 513-373-2397 or 937-587-5464 to register or for information.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 29, 2009
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