give up
"Jesus answered: 'I give you My word, there is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or property, for Me and for the gospel who will not receive in this present age a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property — and persecution besides — and in the age to come, everlasting life.' " —Mark 10:29-30
We will either give up our lives for love of Jesus, or we will give up hope. We will either abandon ourselves to Him or we will despair as life becomes impossible. One way or the other, we will give up.
To give up our lives to Jesus, we must be set free from our addiction to self. This can be done only by receiving God's love. Naturally, we desperately cling to our lives with the clenched fists of selfishness. Only by God's love can we unclench our fists, open our hands, and let our lives fall into the hands of God (see Heb 10:31). In today's Gospel reading, before Jesus told the young rich man to give up everything and follow Him, He looked at the man with love (Mk 10:21).
At this moment, Jesus is looking at each one of us with His divine, crucified love. If we look into the eyes of Love, we will be impelled by love to live no longer for ourselves but for Him (2 Cor 5:14-15). Be loved by Love into love. Stunned by love, drop everything and give up your life to Him Who is Love (1 Jn 4:16).
Prayer: Father, make Your love the root and foundation of my life (Eph 3:17).
Promise: "God's word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates and divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart." —Heb 4:12
Praise: Praise Jesus, risen Love, Life, and Lord! Alleluia to the risen Jesus!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 24, 2000
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 27, 2000