I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. — Psalm 30:2

Mass Readings: Isaiah 54:1-10 / Luke 7:24-30 

Report Card 

I sometimes think about what it would be like to be a mouse in the corner at my own funeral. I’m vain enough to wonder what others would say about me after I’m gone. I suppose a lot of people are. We’re social critters and we navigate, in part, by the feedback we get from our neighbors. That’s why we have report cards and performance evaluations. We want to know how we’re doing. 

John the Baptist got the best report card you could want from the greatest teacher in the world. He tested out at “greatest” among all those born of women. High marks! And yet Jesus also says that any baptized person is greater than John. That’s where you and I stand with Jesus if we’re in a state of grace. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me remain in You and You in me!