The old cartoon character, Popeye, used to flex his muscles, eat spinach, and say: "I yam what I yam. I'm Popeye, the sailor man." Popeye was quoting the Bible in the first part of this statement. Paul also said: "I am what I am" (1 Cor 15:10), but he didn't add: "I'm Paul, the sailor man." His addition was: "By God's favor I am what I am."
Christians base their identity on God's grace. Our relationship with Jesus, not our job, is the essence of a Christian's identity. Our self-image is not primarily based on our looks or our muscles, as was Popeye's. As followers of Christ, we see our bodies as temples of the Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), not as expressions of our ego, pride, and vanity. Christians base their identity on eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood, on receiving Him in Holy Communion (Jn 6:55). Christians are in Christ. We say: "I am what I am" because Jesus is the great I AM (see Jn 8:58).
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the mind of Christ, not my own mind or the mind of the world (1 Cor 2:16). |
| PROMISE: | "I tell you, that is why her many sins are forgiven – because of her great love. Little is forgiven the one whose love is small." –Lk 7:47 |
| PRAISE: | Joan gave her eating habits to the Lord and was filled spiritually. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College