Jesus Only: Part OneSample

Week 3, Day 4 - Wednesday

Jewish tradition highly valued the firstborn son in society. It was a big deal and involved a double portion of inheritance rights, familial authority, and more. Once the father had passed away, it was the first born’s responsibility to lead, nurture, and care for the family unit.  

When I consider my own sons, I’m always in awe of how my oldest loves to look out for and nurture his younger brother (outside of inevitable fighting). Also, it’s heartwarming to see how the younger one looks up to and models his older brother in so many ways (both good and bad).

Similarly, Jesus is the firstborn among all believers and the Church. And thankfully, unlike imperfect human relationships, He is the perfect model and the source to rely on because He is absolutely supreme and matchless. There is none like Him!

When we commit ourselves to following Him, we are choosing to recognize that we are not the primary author of our destiny. Instead, we learn to become more desperate and dependent on Him every day. In other words, to become a part of the Church is to become a part of Christ’s own body and to be filled with His life, His thoughts, His love, His spirit, and His desires. 

We die to ourselves so that His resurrection power can work in our hearts to empower us to live as He did on this earth. Only through death to ourselves do we begin to experience life that is truly life. 

Reflection Question: 

Christ has always existed, and He holds all things in balance. What do you sense the Spirit speaking to you as you meditate on this truth?

Prayer: 

I encourage you to pray this simple prayer of surrender modeled by St. Patrick today.

“Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.”