Jesus is talking about himself

A proverb says of a man who likes to boast: “Praise stinks out of his mouth!” We know that a good job praises itself. But we also know how well it suits us when someone notices the good we are doing and compliments us or loses the word of recognition.

However, we are also aware that praise robs us of merit. Therefore, the asceticism of our religion teaches us not to do our duty just for the glory of the people. As believers, we should commit so that God will reward us for them once, not the world here.

However, as we listened carefully to the passage from the Gospel of John, we did not think of anything wrong, sinful when Jesus’ words sounded like praise. It’s just a bad and straightforward look, so let’s stop at them and learn. Jesus said to the Jews, “I have a greater testimony than that of John: the works that my Father has given me. These works that I do testify to me that the Father has sent me ”(Jn 5:36). The text of the words of the Lord Jesus tells us that his testimony of himself is accurate because it is supported by the testimony of John the Baptist and especially by the testimony of God himself.

These are the wonders and miracles by which Jesus has accomplished his divine mission and good news in the name of God.

We do not doubt the deity of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, we will use the time before the holidays to grow in love for him when we commemorate his birth. We know from his mouth that we were his brothers and sisters when he said, “For everyone who does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother” (Mt 12:50). Who carries out the will of our Father. We know what the typical Heavenly Father wants from us. As a father, he only wants his children well. We must keep this in mind when we are to do his will. To do it with joy, with a pure heart, with love, as Jesus himself taught us in many parables. Furthermore, we must make sure that we are talking about the celebration of God, not our celebration here on earth.

Paul advises us, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). Thus, with our hands, over our mouths, over our eyes, our feet, we are to bear witness to Christ.

If this is not enough for us, let us recall the rich man’s words and the toll booth: Which of them went home justified? Is it not a toll for your humility? Or who has earned the praise of Jesus: Thou that hast cast a lot into the treasury because they had many? Not! She was a poor widow who threw only two small drachmas. Why? Because she did not expect a reward from people but God. And this woman will be talked about until the end of time, as a positive example, even though she gave the temple only two small money. The Lord Jesus emphasized this on another occasion, saying, “But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what the right one is doing …” (Mt 6: 3). He said that when it came to charity. Jesus did not like the example of the Pharisees. They displayed the admiration of praying for a long time, standing on the corners of the streets. Indeed, Jesus did not be deceived by the long tassels on their clothes.

From this, we know that God does not like praise, pride. God opposes the proud but gives His grace to the humble! For Jesus, they mean more words: “But when you go to pray, go to your room, close the door behind you and pray to your Father, who is in secret …” (Mt 6: 6).

A careful reading of the Scriptures is a sufficient supply for us to live a rich life before God as we put it into practice. Let’s not build airlocks that can’t be done. We live an authentic life here on earth today because, until this time, God has called us into this environment. Here he wants us; here he decides our eternity. This is what we mean in preparation for the feasts of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus. Let us not know Jesus only sometimes, but still.

May the Lord Jesus be our light. Let’s be like the three kings who went to the star. May Jesus, his teachings, lead us to a correct understanding of our lives. So we will not have a problem with praise, pride, but we will receive an eternal reward.