He Must Increase
One
The Program
Once the public ministry of Jesus is launched with the miracle at the Wedding of Cana, people begin to flock to him. At this point, the disciples of John the Baptist start to get concerned that John is losing his followers to Jesus so they go to John and ask him what is going on and what he’s going to do?
John answered, “No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore, this joy of mine is now full. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Pope Benedict said the Baptist’s words are a program for every Christian. Jesus must increase and we must decrease. Well, if Jesus is the program, then what must we do?
Two
Jesus took Mary for his Mother
The first thing Jesus did was to take Mary for His mother and live in a close personal relationship with her throughout the entirety of His life from the Manger to the wedding of Cana to the cross. Then Jesus gave His mother to us to be our spiritual mother. Therefore, if Jesus is the program, if we're going to live an imitation of Him and have His life increase in US then we must follow His example and develop our own personal relationship with Mary.
How do we form a personal relationship with Mary? Begin by entrusting yourself entirely to her today. Then throughout the day, remember she is with you, watching over you, there to help you. Talk with her, ask her what to do, pay attention to her inspirations. Try to put what you think she inspires into practice. This good mother of ours, when she sees one of her little children trying to do what their mother wants, will certainly come to our aid. Remember, Mary is present, talk with her, just try to do what you think she wants. She will help you.
Three
Jesus spent time in friendship with his father in prayer.
I challenge you to find one time in the life of Jesus that does not begin or end with prayer. We always find Jesus going off before sunrise or staying up late at night to spend time in friendship with his father in prayer. If the life of Jesus is to increase in us, then we must follow his example.
Meditating on the word of God in the rosary, spending time in silence with no distractions, reading, and thinking about the Word of God and applying it to our life, going to daily Mass, and just sitting with God in silence at the end of the day. And speaking with Jesus all day long. But as the Catechism teaches, “But we cannot pray at all times if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it.” (2697)
Four
Jesus did the will of the Father
When the apostles returned from searching for food, Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work.” The life of Jesus was fed by doing the will of God. The same goes for us. If we do the will of God, then our lives will be fed with meaning and purpose, significance, and joy.
Our duties and responsibilities are one of the clearest expressions of the will of God. What are the responsibilities and duties God has given us? Am I doing these out of love for Him? Do I complain about them? Have I taken on more than God asked?
Five
Jesus took up his cross willingly
Jesus accepted His cross, and he told us that if we want to be His disciples, we have to take up our own cross and follow Him. Our cross is anything that we did not choose, do not like, and cannot change. Do we accept or resist our cross? Are we willing to accept our cross out of love for God and for the conversion of our loved ones who are far away from the faith?
Jesus took Mary for His mother and lived a personal relationship with her. He spent time with the Father in friendship and prayer every day, he did the will of the Father out of love for Him, and He accepted His cross for the conversion of sinners. This is the program. This is the way for Jesus to increase and for us to decrease. What specific good action is God asking of you today?