Jesus "went to heaven and is at God's right hand, with angelic rulers and powers subjected to Him" (1 Pt 3:22). He is seated at the Father's right hand "high above every principality, power, virtue, and domination, and every name that can be given in this age or in the age to come. (God) has put all things under Christ's feet" (Eph 1:21-22). "In subjecting all things to Him, God left nothing unsubjected" (Heb 2:8). Jesus "took His seat forever at the right hand of God; now He waits until His enemies are placed beneath His feet" (Heb 10:12-13). Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is totally and irreversibly victorious over Satan, sin, death, slavery, and sickness.

Although this is true, "at present we do not see all things thus subject" (Heb 2:8). Therefore, we don't realize we can put Jesus' enemies beneath His feet, that is, we don't apply Jesus' victory to our problems, brokenness, weakness, or sickness. We don't "cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons" (Mt 10:8) with the authority given to us by our risen and ascended Lord (see Mt 10:1). We don't do greater things than Jesus did, even though He is praying for us to do just that (Jn 14:12-13).

To apply the total victory of Jesus to our everyday lives, we need the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will enlighten our innermost vision to know "the immeasurable scope of His power in us" (Eph 1:18-19). The Spirit will confirm our faith (see 1 Cor 12:9; Gal 5:22) so that we will not walk by sight but by faith (2 Cor 5:7). Then, even though many things don't appear subjected to Christ, we will believe they are, and we will claim Jesus' total victory. The Holy Spirit connects us to the ascended Christ, to power from on high (Lk 24:49). Come, Holy Spirit!

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 9, 1996

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 15, 1996