The task before us

In every human life, whether we know it consciously or not, there is one task which predominates: being able to relinquish—even let loose just a bit—on the controls of our life and to place our trust for all things and all situations with God. “To let go and let God” as has often been said.

Depending on one’s current concerns, each of us would fill-in-the-blanks differently, but the control/trust issue is the same, no matter what the issue on the ground. So often we seek in religion—even in the monastic life—a false peace, because we fear to give up our fears through absolute trust in an incomprehensible God of love.

The great question is: Are we ready and willing to let go of these fears that allow us an illusory and enslaving comfort and security? To let go of such fears is a true dying process that many of us are not quite ready to undergo. Yet on the other side of them is the possibility of the fullness of life.

In the Annunciation, Mary of Nazareth models this “letting go” process, from acceptance and facing of fears, to relinquishment of control (whether actual or chimerical), to the sheer vulnerability of trust. When the angel departs, Mary has nothing to take with her but her yes, her simple and unqualified surrender, and nothing to go on but the faith that God’s promises can never fail.

Recent Issues

February 2024

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023

October 2023

July 2023

May 2023

January 2023

December 2022

October 2022

September 2022

July 2022

May 2022

April 2022

March 2022

January 2022

December 2021

November 2021

October 2021

June 2021

May 2021

April 2021

February 2021

January 2021

December 2020

October 2020

September 2020

August 2020

July 2020

June 2020

May 2020

April 2020

March 2020

February 2020

January 2020

December 2019

November 2019

October 2019

September 2019

August 2019

July 2019

May 2019

April 2019

March 2019

January 2019

December 2018

November 2018

October 2018

September 2018

August 2018

July 2018

June 2018

May 2018

April 2018

March 2018

February 2018

January 2018

December 2017

November 2017

October 2017

September 2017

June 2017

May 2017

April 2017

March 2017

February 2017

January 2017

December 2016

November 2016

October 2016

September 2016

August 2016

July 2016

June 2016

May 2016

April 2016

March 2016

February 2016

January 2016

December 2015

November 2015

October 2015

September 2015

August 2015

July 2015

June 2015

May 2015