empty, room
"I want My house to be full." —Luke 14:23
Our God is constantly inviting us to share in His life, live in His love, receive His body and blood, read His Word, share our faith, serve Him, and even suffer with Him and die for Him. Often we may not even be aware of the Lord's many invitations because we are possessed by our possessions or preoccupied with relationships which are actually only projections of our selfishness on another person (see Lk 14:18ff). We will continue to be oblivious to the Lord's invitations or be aware of the Lord just enough to reject Him unless we empty ourselves as Jesus did (Phil 2:7). Only when we crucify ourselves (Gal 2:19), our "flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal 5:24), and the world (Gal 6:14) will we be empty enough to hear and accept the Lord's invitations.
Before Jesus was born, there was not room for Him in the inn (see Lk 2:7). This situation persists to the present day. Is there anyone not so stuffed with stuff that he or she can and will hear the Lord? Is there anyone empty enough to accept the Lord's invitation to be filled with Him? "Absolute fullness" resides in Jesus (Col 1:19) because He chose almost absolute emptiness. Empty yourself even unto "death on a cross" (Phil 2:8). Make room for Jesus. Accept His invitations.
Prayer: Father, I accept Your invitation to empty myself.
Promise: "At Jesus' name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!" —Phil 2:10-11
Praise: In addition to his lengthy daily prayer time, St. Charles, a cardinal with heavy responsibilities, set aside two hours daily for meditation.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Developing a Deep Personal Relationship with Jesus on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 24, 2014
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