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Wednesday, March 20, 2019

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Jeremiah 18:18-20
Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16
Matthew 20:17-28

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the greatest greatness

"Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest." —Matthew 20:26

If you are a Christian, you are literally an adopted child of God. You have a new nature in Christ, a share in the divine nature (2 Pt 1:4). You are royal, priestly, holy, chosen, and set apart (see 1 Pt 2:9). Considering your identity in Christ, you are obviously called to greatness.

However, we must understand greatness the way Jesus does. Our greatness is not the greatness of the world but the greatness of the cross (see Mt 20:25-26).

Once we become convinced of our call to true greatness, we look at life much differently. For example, in this booklet we repeatedly encourage you to pray the Mass daily or as frequently as possible. Daily Mass is almost a logical conclusion for those who know their call to greatness. In this booklet, we try to move people from Bible illiteracy or ignorance to a life in God's Word (see Jn 8:31). Those who know their call to greatness see the need to immerse themselves in God's Word.

So many Christians live lukewarm, mediocre lives. How can Christians settle for less than giving the Lord their best? They must not realize their call to greatness. This Lent, ask the Holy Spirit to confirm your identity and your call to greatness.

Prayer:  Father, may I let You fulfill Your great plan in my life.

Promise:  "Remember that I stood before You to speak in their behalf, to turn away Your wrath from them." —Jer 18:20

Praise:  Jesus used a sales pitch for cemetery plots to get Susan to think about where she would be after death, and to draw her back to Himself.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 24, 2018

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