Offer your lives to God
Resurrection is possible only after death. When we look at the cross we see suffering, darkness and what seems like the
end . But when we look intently at the empty tomb of Jesus we witness a new beginning.
Our Lady leads us tirelessly on this path when She calls us to fasting, renunciation and sacrifice. These things mean
dying. In this way a new life is born. There is no resurrection without the cross and death.
Jesus teaches us in the parable of the grain of wheat that unless a seed falls into the earth and dies it will not produce
fruit. Our daily small deaths of pride, selfishness, laziness and fear may become the place from which something new
is born.
Mary helps us to offer our lives to God by Her example and intercession. She offered Him Her plans and said “fiat”.
Likewise, our sacrifice of our lives to God may become the reason for the resurrection of many hearts.
This year we commemorate 800 years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. He renounced the wealth and security
of his father’s home. In full view of the townspeople, he took off his rich clothes and returned them to his father. It was
not a fleeting zeal, but a radical beginning of conversion, followed by the renewal of the Church. In times of waning
love, he appeared as a living Gospel. From his “yes” to God, a community arose that has endured for eight centuries.
When a person offers his life to God then it never remains without fruit. Just as Saint Francis has been winning the
world for Jesus for centuries so too our small and hidden sacrifices may bring the resurrection of faith in the hearts of
others.
Mary reminds us that God is near to us and heeds our prayers but we are lulled to sleep. This is the tragedy of the
disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. She said: “You are so blind and attached to earthly things and think of
earthly life. God sent Me to lead you toward eternal life. I, little children, am not tired, although I see that your
hearts are heavy and tired for everything that is a grace and a gift”. (25.10.2006)
Mary desires us to shine holiness like a spring flower. The spring flower shines not because it tries its best. It shines
because it accepts the light. Before blossoming the seed must fall into the earth and die. In silence, in shelter, in the
darkness of soil the mystery of new life happens. What appears from the outside to be the end is actually the beginning
of transformation. The same is true of holiness. This is not an achievement or external perfection. This is an openness
that is born out of dying to yourself. When we allow arrogance and selfishness to die within us then the space is made
for God’s light.
When we convert to God with the whole heart and allow Him to love us then we will begin to shine not with our own
power but with the life that has sprouted within us after the hidden death of the seed.
Prayer
Mother of the silent dying for the sake of new life! I entrust this time of grace to You. You know how difficult it is for
us to sacrifice ourselves. Take us by the hand and lead us along the path of trust when we are afraid of loss and resist
the cross and suffering. Help us to die to arrogance, selfishness and fear so that new life may arise within us. You know
what it means to say “yes” to God. Obtain for us an open heart which will not be afraid of the darkness of the soil
because it believes in the light of the resurrection. Awaken us from the sleep of indifference. Mary, help us to sacrifice
our lives to God so that new life may grow in the hearts of others through our hidden dying. Amen.