Jesus is LORD

“Entire books can be written on Christ as Kyrios [Lord] without giving any indication of being touched in the least by the lordship of Christ, like people who speak about fire without ever stretching forth their hands to feel its warmth. The difference between the Lord Jesus known through books and the Lord Jesus as revealed by the Holy Spirit is like the difference between a sky that is painted on canvas and the real sky overhead.” 

-The Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Born Again of Water and the Spirit, Part Two, Raniero Cardinal Cantalamessa

What does it mean to say, “Jesus is Lord”? Is it the mere ending of a prayer or a stunning and wondrous reality that brings, or should bring, unshakable confidence no matter the circumstances in which we’re living? Do we really believe it? Do we act like we believe it? 

In the book quoted above, Cardinal Cantalamessa makes the striking observation that the primary grace that came from the charismatic renewal in the Catholic Church is a rediscovery of the biblical truth, a newfound experience – and not just head knowledge – that Jesus is Lord. In other words, what is often called “the baptism of the Holy Spirit,” awakens within us what was given to us at our sacramental baptism, when the Holy Spirit began to dwell in us as in a temple. 

The Spirit of God does so many things in us and through us, to be sure. But the first thing that the Spirit does is He gives us the gift of faith. And faith, as a priest mentor of mine once summarized the Catechism, is “God’s work in me to which I respond.” In other words, faith is a gift that enables me to know with certainty that Jesus is Lord, that He has risen from the dead, that He has conquered Death, that He holds all of history (His-story) in His hands. 

Jesus is LORD. 

Let us linger with those words today.

Let us ruminate on those words throughout the day, in imitation of Mary, who time and again ruminated on things in her heart.

There’s a constant danger to liturgical religions and devotional practices. The danger is that we can become used to saying things that are beyond magnificent. This is one of those things. May the Holy Spirit enable us to know the reality these words are expressing!

In the midst of all the present turmoil, be that the upcoming election, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, matters in the Church – both at home and across the globe, a marital or family situation, or whatever else might be threatening our peace, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do: to open our minds and hearts to the reality of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. To help us know that He has abolished Death, canceled Sin and broken the gates of hell. That He has no rival. That He is not anxious or nervous. 

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).