< <  

Thursday, June 22, 2000

  > >

St. Paulinus of Nola
Sts. John Fisher & Thomas More


Sirach 48:1-14
Psalm 97
Matthew 6:7-15

View Readings
Similar Reflections

identification paper

"How awesome are you, Elijah! Whose glory is equal to yours?" —Sirach 48:4

Elijah was "awesome." His specialty was bringing down fire from heaven (Sir 48:3). He began the process by which the wicked kingdom of Ahab and Jezebel was destroyed (see Sir 48:6). The mighty Elijah appropriately left this earth by being "enveloped in the whirlwind" (Sir 48:12).

We may think that Elijah is "out of our league." Probably most of us are not often described as "awesome." However, the Lord describes Elijah as "only a man" like the rest of us (Jas 5:17). In fact, we who are in Christ Jesus are not only like Elijah but greater (Mt 11:11). Moreover, we who believe in Jesus are not only greater than Elijah, but we can do greater works than even Jesus did (Jn 14:12). We who live for Jesus are awesome, chosen, holy, royal, priestly, beloved children of God (see 1 Pt 2:9; 1 Jn 3:1), who even share in God's divine nature (2 Pt 1:4).

In this year of the Great Jubilee, know yourself; be yourself; be new creations in Jesus (Gal 6:15).

Prayer:  Father, "what is man that You should be mindful of him?" (Ps 8:5)

Promise:  "Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us." —Mt 6:11-12

Praise:  St. Thomas More considered joining a religious order and becoming a priest. He brought this to God and clearly discerned that God was calling him to reform the secular culture. Thomas brought godly counsel into his position in government.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, December 16, 1999


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 1999