Lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on surrender. What does it look like? What changes would it make to my life? How would it make me feel? Now I’m not talking about the small surrender of coming to a compromise with your spouse or giving in to your child after hearing them beg for an hour straight. I’m talking about that complete and total surrender that brings us to say, “Whatever You want, Lord. May Your will be done. Use me in whatever way You see fit. Mold me like clay in your hands.”
I recently read a reflection that used the analogy of a colorful kite flying in the wind. The breeze brings it this way and that in a happy dance. Our souls can become like that kite, allowing the Holy Spirit to blow us where He wills and then we experience that childlike joy.
Over Holy Week this year, I also got to thinking about the extent of Jesus’ surrender. His whole being rebelled against the idea of His Passion so much that He sweat drops of blood, yet He said “not my will but yours be done.” And something that struck me in a whole new way this year were the words “And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” We tend to look at the crucifixion as Jesus being put to death, and indeed He was, yet He chose to hand over His spirit. He could have jumped down from that cross at any moment, yet He chose to breathe His last breath. My brother shared with me an additional thought on this passage. Normally people expire first and then their head falls to their chest, but Jesus bowed His head first, in one final act of humility and submission to the Father’s will, and then died.
Our readings today speak of this complete and total surrender. “Woe to the complacent in Zion!” (Amos 6:4), and “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called…keep the commandment without stain or reproach” (1 Tim 6). Then Jesus calls us to generosity and repentance with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in the Gospel.
Not one of these readings encourage us to simply be a good person. Not one of them invites us to keep up with the status quo. Not one of them asks us to give a little bit of what we have extra, whether it be time, talent or treasure. Rather, they invite us to flee from “complacency” and “compete well for the faith.” They invite us to live “without stain or reproach”. This implies radical surrender!
And while this type of lifestyle change will most certainly require sacrifice, it will also bring indescribable freedom and joy. For the only decisions that we make will be those made with the Lord and the only paths that we follow will be those walked in His footsteps.
Últimamente he estado reflexionando mucho sobre la entrega. ¿Qué significa? ¿Qué cambios traería a mi vida? ¿Cómo me sentiría? No me refiero a la pequeña entrega de ceder para llegar a un acuerdo con tu pareja o de rendirte después de escuchar a tu hijo suplicar durante una hora. Me refiero a esa entrega total y completa que nos lleva a decir: “Señor, hágase tu voluntad. Utilízame como a ti te parece mejor. Moldéame como arcilla en tus manos”.
Hace poco leí una reflexión que usaba la analogía de una cometa de colores que vuela con el viento. La brisa la lleva de un lado a otro en una danza alegre. Nuestras almas pueden llegar a ser como esa cometa, permitiendo que el Espíritu Santo nos lleve a donde Él quiere y podemos experimentar esa alegría infantil.
Durante la Semana Santa de este año, me puse a pensar sobre la profundidad de la entrega de Jesús. Todo su ser se rebeló tanto contra la idea de su Pasión que sudó gotas de sangre, pero dijo: “que no se haga mi voluntad, sino la tuya”. Y algo que me impactó de una manera completamente nueva este año fueron las palabras: “e inclinando la cabeza, entregó el espíritu”. Solemos ver la crucifixión como la matanza de Jesús, y de hecho lo fue, pero eligió entregar su espíritu. Podría haber brincado de esa cruz en cualquier momento, pero eligió dar su último suspiro. Mi hermano compartió conmigo un pensamiento adicional sobre este pasaje. Normalmente, las personas expiran primero y luego su cabeza cae sobre el pecho, pero Jesús inclinó la cabeza primero, en un último acto de humildad y sumisión a la voluntad del Padre, y luego murió.
Nuestras lecturas de hoy hablan de esta entrega total y completa. “¡Ay de ustedes, los que se sienten seguros en Sión…!”. (Amós 6,4), y “lleva una vida de rectitud, piedad, fe, amor, paciencia y mansedumbre. Lucha en el noble combate de la fe, conquista la vida eterna a la que has sido llamado… te ordeno que cumplas fiel e irreprochablemente, todo lo mandado” (1 Timoteo 6). Luego, Jesús nos llama a la generosidad y al arrepentimiento con la parábola de Lázaro y el hombre rico en el Evangelio.
Ninguna de estas lecturas nos anima a simplemente ser buenas personas. Ninguna nos invita a cumplir con el statu quo. Ninguna nos pide que demos un poco de lo que nos sobra, ya que sea tiempo, talento o dinero. Más bien, nos invitan a huir de la complacencia y a luchar en noble combate por la fe. Nos mandan a vivir de forma fiel e irreprochable. ¡Esto implica una entrega radical!
Y si bien este cambio de estilo de vida sin duda requerirá sacrificio, también traerá una libertad y una alegría indescriptibles. Porque las únicas decisiones que tomemos serán las que tomemos con el Señor y los únicos caminos que andamos serán los que seguimos en sus huellas.
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
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