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