“Given over Everything” by Beth DeCristofaro

“Given over Everything” by Beth DeCristofaro

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. (John 3:33-35)

Piety

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
Blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R.    The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

 Psalm 34:2-4, 7)

Study

John the Baptist’s words in this Gospel are very reminiscent of Jesus’ words spoken to Nicodemus immediately prior.  “If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn - the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17) But as Jesus also said in both instances, few believe.

John the Evangelist wrote so “we may believe” that God’s love was so overwhelmingly generous and profuse that in the person of Jesus, God is proven trustworthy.  This thought is most humbling – that God so loved the world that God cares if I consider him trustworthy.  God wants to give me knowledge of his divinity.  God desires that I choose to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life, which is a manifestation of himself.  It is awe-inspiring that God sees my greatest fear, which is the fear of death and annihilation, and that God takes the sting out of non-being by offering me a place within eternity.

And I cannot earn God’s freely given generosity.  But I can refuse it; I can lose it, I can squander it. “To the preacher who preached ‘We must put God in our lives,’ the Master said ‘God is already there.  We must recognize this.’” (Fr. Anthony DeMello)

Action

In what way do I ration Jesus’ direction and cherish his cultivation of my life?  What is one step I can take to give over control to Jesus in an area of my life?