Letting Go

During Holy Hour today, I asked the Lord Jesus if He would deign to teach me about the spiritual life. Jesus answered me,” My daughter, faithfully live up to the words which I speak to you. Do not value any external thing too highly, even if it were to seem very precious to you. Let go of yourself, and abide with Me continually. Entrust everything to Me and do nothing on your own, and you will always have great freedom of spirit. No circumstances or events will ever be able to upset you. Set little store on what people say. Let everyone judge you as they like. Do not make excuses for yourself; it will do you no harm. Give away everything at the first sign of a demand, even if they were the most necessary things. Do not ask for anything without consulting Me. Allow them to take away even what is due you-respect, your good name-let your spirit rise above all that. And so, set free from everything, rest close to My Heart, not allowing your peace to be disturbed by anything. “ Jesus to St Faustina-Divine Mercy in My Soul

 

My spiritual director once told me, “ The way of God to a new plan is kind of American instead of European. In American architecture they knock everything down and begin completely over while Europeans build on the old.” So true.

It is not easy to let go of things, and allow God to tear down what you feel is your foundation, especially if it is “very precious to you.” In our humanness we tend to cling, especially if we feel something is being torn from us, or if we feel like we have been treated unjustly. It is then that we either let go kicking and screaming with someone pulling us from behind, or freely let go and  give what it is the other is claiming. Either way we must let go if we are to live in the peace of Christ.

In the case of abortion, we need to let go of hurt, bitterness, anger, shame, guilt and all that separates us from allowing God to heal us. We need to learn the dynamics of abortion and the many different ways it impacts us so we can move forward. With the support of those who have gone before us and those trained in healing we are able to do that.

We need to decide to forgive, and even embrace this pain of letting go, so that we are “set free from everything”. Even if we value what we are called to let go of highly.

It is in this letting go, this surrender, that we rest close to the heart of Christ. That we come to know in the end, the only thing really important is our relationship with Him. That this letting go, will ultimately bring us to His peace and the freedom of spirit He speaks of, so that He can be born anew in our souls.

Whether it is with abortion, or one of the many other things we cling to, may your hearts let go of all that keeps you from Him so that He may find room in your heart to dwell for all eternity.