EMPTYing in ORDER TO FILL UP
Everything God asks us to do in our spiritual life is worthwhile. Every time we let go of an attachment, no matter how small, we open our lives just a little bit more to the grace of God and the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. This early Christological hymn in our Second Reading speaks to us of the incredible example of Jesus who leaves the glory of heaven in order to become one of us. I love the way some of the Cappadocian Fathers of the Church explain this by saying, “One of us is God!” This is an incredibly comforting and humbling insight into the nature of the Incarnation.
We have no reason to doubt the commitment of God to our salvation. Jesus demonstrates His willingness to identify with us more fully by taking on human form. This sets Christianity apart in that we have a God who is one of us. The Incarnation witnesses to the fact that relationships are the key to our existence. Jesus comes from the perfect relationship of the Holy Trinity. We all grow up in families and among friends. Our relationships define our character. The choices we make in life — who to listen to and follow — will circumscribe our capacity to influence the events of our world for both good and evil.
It is also very comforting to hear that eventually everyone will realize that Jesus is the Lord and Messiah. Thus, no matter how misunderstood I may be now, time will come when I will be vindicated in the faith and trust I place in God. It is this belief that enables me to make choices for the Gospel and is the source of comfort when I am persecuted.
We need to entrust our lives to the will of God if we want to see Him work through the power of the Spirit in our lives. What God wants is a humble and contrite spirit who trembles at His word (Isaiah 66:2). Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you live your life as though Jesus is the Messiah? If not, why? What are you going to do about this?
Father, help me to open my life more fully to the work of Your Holy Spirit so that I may truly live the fullness of life of a redeemed person.
No comments:
Post a Comment