Day 64: The Lord

From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord". "The Church. . . believes that the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and Master." CCC 450

In today's reading, the Catechism speaks of Jesus as Lord. As the Catechism Companion, Vol I notes:

This was not a mere claim; Jesus "demonstrated his divine sovereignty by works of power over nature, illness, demons, death, and sin. When we say "Jesus is Lord" we are saying that he has lordship over our lives. (p. 132)

It is a remarkable claim that we Christians believe in the Risen Christ, but it is at the heart of our faith and moved by the Holy Spirit we must profess His lordship in order to follow Him  (1 Cor 12:3; 15:12-19). For some, this core belief of ours is a "stumbling block" or "foolishness," yet to those who believe we know that "the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom" (1 Cor 1:23-25). Christians know that, as Scripture witnesses:

There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

We believe in One God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus as the Son is not only the Christ, but our Lord. 

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio, c. 1602

This famous artwork by Caravaggio show Thomas touching the wound marks of the Risen Christ. Thomas proclaims, "My Lord and my God!" For Thomas, as for the other apostles Jesus was Kyrios, Lord and Master. (p. 133)