In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a startling prediction: “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these…” We, his brothers and sisters in faith, will do Great Things. Greater things than Jesus did? Really? So, what did Jesus mean when He assured us we will do greater works than He; the miracle worker, who changed the water into wine, raised Lazarus, gave the blind man sight, and cured the royal official’s son at Capernaum?
Beleving in Jesus leads us to trusting and abiding in Him. This union, prayerfully experienced will open our deepest selves to make room for the Spirit to fill us, to set us on fire, and to act in amazing loving ways. These ways may lead us to do Great Works The dazzling Great Works we do because we believe in Jesus are probably a lot subtler, more nuanced. Yet, the impact that our lives, lived in union with God, are having on others is probably more profound than we will ever know in this lifetime. Caring for a disabled or ill family member or neighbor, treating people with justice, compassion, and love, and being faithful parents, spouses, and employees while opening our hearts, our homes, our neighborhoods, and our country to our brothers and sisters who are hungry, lost, afraid, alone . . .these are all Great Works.
In your quiet moments of prayer today, ask God to do Great Works in you. And don’t be surprised if the answer to your prayer is: “Just keep doing the little works you are doing, faithful one.”
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”