Youcat commented through CCC - Question n. 75 - Part III.

YOUCAT Question n. 75 - Part III. Why do Christians address Jesus as “Lord”?

(Youcat answer - Repeated) “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am” (Jn 13:13).     

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 450) From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord" (Cf. Rev 11:15;  Mk 12:17;  Acts 5:29). "The Church… believes that the key, the centre and the purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and Master" (GS 10 § 3; cf. 45 § 2).    

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) The early Christians spoke as a matter of course about Jesus as “Lord”, knowing that in the Old Testament this title was reserved as a form of addressing God. Through many signs Jesus had shown them that he had divine power over nature, demons, sin, and death. The divine origin of Jesus mission was revealed in his Resurrection from the dead. Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28). For us this means that since Jesus is “the Lord”, a Christian may not bend his knee to any other power.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 451) Christian prayer is characterized by the title "Lord", whether in the invitation to prayer ("The Lord be with you"), its conclusion ("through Christ our Lord") or the exclamation full of trust and hope: Maran atha ("Our Lord, come!") or Marana tha ("Come, Lord!") - "Amen Come Lord Jesus!" (1 Cor 16:22;  Rev 22:20). (CCC 455) The title "Lord" indicates divine sovereignty. To confess or invoke Jesus as Lord is to believe in his divinity. "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit'" (1 Cor 12:3).     

(The next question is:  Why did God become man in Jesus?)