Jesus is Lord

Summary of a teaching by Edward Dailey, C.S.C.

Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.(1997)

When we make this proclamation by our lips and our lives in the full conviction of the truth of this fact we are making a prophetic and a political statement. prophetic statement - because we are not expressing a human concept; we are acting under a divine revelation (Rom. 10:8-9). We can only make this proclamation with conviction of the truth of the reality through a visitation of the Spirit in our lives (1Cor. 12-3). We are stating a concrete reality that can be touched and verified not just by ourselves, but more importantly by others who observe our actions and listen to our speech. They will reflect back to us the truth of what we confess.

A political statement - because when we proclaim Jesus is Lord, we enter into a radically different reading of history and a radically different way of living our lives because of our personal relationship with him and he with us. We state our allegiance to Jesus and we declare unequivocally that nothing exists outside of him and all persons, all things without exception are in him (Col. 1:16-18). What does this fact tell me about the events in my life? Who is really in control? What does this say to me about my possessions? What I have been given is for my use only and then to build up the kingdom of God. What does this fact tell me about my relationships with people? They are my brothers and sisters and not just individuals to manipulate and control for my own personal benefit and gain. I enter into an absolute and unconditional dependence on Jesus. He is the source of my life and my life is in his kingdom where he has all the rights. I can do nothing of myself or under other impulses without betraying him. How many other lords other than Jesus do I have in my life? Perhaps my own ego is the most powerful and requires submission. What are my secret and not so secret preferences in life? What do my choices tell me about Jesus being the Lord of my life? What is that really nourishes me and gives me life? (cf. Mt. 6:2)

When we confess under the influence of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is Lord, we are doing no little thing. This is not an empty statement; nor is it merely a pious act that will make us feel good inside. We are making a political and a prophetic statement. We are performing a political act, making a declaration of allegiance and swearing an oath of fidelity to the Lord Jesus. This act has an impact on our lives not in some general, idealised way, but in the specific way we lead our lives each moment of the day in everything we say and do. Because we are making this political and prophetic statement our lives must bear witness to what we confess. And everyone around us has a right to see the coherency between what we live and what we profess.

We may not always succeed fully in living out this confession. We may fail in one way or another. This does not deter us. We come before our Lord and we admit our weakness and our failures. We seek his forgiveness and healing. He gives it to us freely and at the same time strengthens us to continue living our proclamation. This makes all the difference in the world.

When under the power of the Holy Spirit, we state Jesus is Lord, we make our pledge of allegiance, our oath of citizenship in the heavenly kingdom and we swear our fidelity and loyalty to Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. At the same time, we state with St. Paul:

"What were my assets, I now though Christ Jesus count as losses… because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, I count everything as loss… if only I can gain Christ and be given a place with him" Phil. 3:7-9). "For me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21)