What area of your life are you afraid to surrender to God’s life-giving reign? - Daily Reflections November 24,2015

LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY WITH YOU   In the First Reading, King Nebuchadnezzar called for Daniel to interpret a dream he had. In a vision, the king saw a statue that is large and bright, very imposing and magnificent in appearance. It was made of gold, silver, bronze and other precious stones. A stone hewn from a mountain suddenly struck the statue at its feet. It crumbled to the ground and broke into several pieces and was blown away by the wind without a trace. And then the stone that struck the statue grew into a mountain and filled the whole earth. Based on Daniel’s interpretation, we learn that the statue represented the king. The stone hewn from the mountain came from God, representing His displeasure over Nebuchadnezzar’s godless kingship. For a king like Nebuchadnezzar, the idea of God taking over is bad news. It signaled the end of his kingship.        This is what it’s like for the enemies of God — His taking over signals the end. Because they see Him as a rival, as an enemy. That is why they resist Him with all their might.        But it is quite different with the friends of God. For His friends, God taking over is not the end but actually the beginning of a new and fuller life. Friends of God actually welcome God taking over. Friends of God actually long for Him to take over. Like Paul, friends of God can say with exultation, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). With St. John Paul II, friends of God can declare to God “Totus Tuus,” i.e., “I am all Yours.” Friends of God understand that He is not an enemy and a rival. He is an ally. He is one whose delight is nothing else but the flourishing of those whom He loves. They trust and embrace Jesus’ mission: “I came that they may have life, life to the full” (John 10:10).        Who will you be like when God wishes to take over, Nebuchadnezzar or a friend of God? Fr. Joel Jason     REFLECTION QUESTION: What area of your life are you afraid to surrender to God’s life-giving reign?   Take, O Lord, and receive, my mind, my will, my memory, my all. Amen.