on empty?
"The wine ran out, and Jesus' mother told Him, 'They have no more wine.' " —John 2:3
In John's Gospel, Jesus began His public ministry at a wedding feast where they had "no more wine." Likewise, many people begin to let Jesus work in their lives when they realize they are out of wine, love, strength, energy, ideas, or hope. In the weakness of our emptiness, God's power in us can reach perfection (2 Cor 12:9).
It is literally true that without Jesus we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). Of ourselves, we are always on "empty" in the important things in life. Life is an impossible situation. This gradually or at least eventually becomes obvious. We are doomed to despair. Who can save us? (see Rm 7:24) Jesus alone is our Savior. "There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:12). So the most important thing in life is to give our lives and our emptiness totally to Jesus. We must take Mary's advice and do whatever Jesus tells us (Jn 2:5). Jesus is our only Hope.
Hope in His lordship of our lives. Hope through our obedience to Him. He will take us from our emptiness to the wedding feast of heaven (see Rv 19:7). Thank You, Jesus!
Prayer: Father, I rejoice that "absolute fullness" resides in Jesus (Col 1:19).
Promise: "For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch." —Is 62:1
Praise: Praise Jesus, our risen Savior, our only Hope!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Hope on audio AV 70-1 or video V-70.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert A. Stricker, June 23, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 26, 2003