Every Knee Shall Bow!

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 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.

Christianity is an incorrigibly public faith.  It proposes, not that a few mystic visionaries, but that every human being who ever lived or ever will live shall (not might) confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Everybody from Genghis Khan to your grocer to Mother Teresa to Adolf Hitler shall somehow—-either willingly or unwillingly—-bend the knee to him and confess—-either willingly or unwillingly—-that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Of course, Christianity does not propose that all these people will thereby necessarily experience salvation (though we are free to hope for that).  It does not even propose that all who do so are necessarily aware that, even in their sins, they are being used to bring glory to God (as, for instance, Judas’ sin ultimately led to Christ’s glorious resurrection).  But it does absolutely assure us that, no matter what, at the end of the day the glory will go to God the Father.  Today, offer glory to God willingly as his cherished child that you may share in that glory with Jesus Christ.

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Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.

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