great disciples of the great i am
"I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you." —Genesis 12:2
Who are you? You are such a blessed blessing that you are a blessing to "all the communities of the earth" (Gn 12:3). Some people may object that this is not who they are, but rather who Abraham is. Jesus disagrees and agrees. We are like Abraham, but we also are greater than Abraham (Mt 11:11). In fact, because we are in Jesus and He is in us, we can do greater things than even Jesus did (Jn 14:12). Because we have been made sons and daughters of God, our greatness is phenomenal.
The purpose of life is to receive a new nature through Baptism and then to be our new selves by living faithfully and joyfully our baptismal promises. Because of who we are in Christ, to live in anything less than greatness is sinful. We must live much more than a good life. We have been re-created for greatness. In imitation of Jesus, we must suffer greatly so as to have a greater love (see Jn 15:13). Then we will enter into the ultimate greatness of eternal life.
Be your baptized self. Be great.
Prayer: Father, let me live by Your standards.
Promise: "Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to take the speck from your brother's eye." —Mt 7:5
Praise: Joseph is learning to hold his peace rather than to speak his mind.
Reference: (It's not too late to register for one or more of the Summer Presentation Ministries Discipleship Retreats. For information or to register, e-mail retreats@presentationministries.com or call 937-587-5464. See the back inside cover of this book for more on our retreats.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002