Let go and let God

Paul seems annoyed when he writes to the Corinthian community: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.”


No doubt the Corinthians were arranging their lives around fulfilling worldly goals — personal well being, material prosperity, professional success, health, long life. Paul was exasperated: how could they be so foolish! Had they totally forgotten the message he preached to them?


But he softens his message by reminding them that, “all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.” Paul doesn’t seem to be accusing the Corinthians of living sinful lives but rather of living disordered lives. Their lives were “off center, ” centered on worldly goals. They had not integrated these goals with living the Gospel so they must refocus their lives.


Why? Paul puts it bluntly: You belong to Christ!


In every age we Christians experience the same temptation as the Corinthians. Our lives may not be sinful but they are frequently “off-center.” We too are often caught up in the foolishness of the wisdom of this world, forgetting to Whom we belong.


Paul’s words remain important reminders to us: We do not belong primarily to this world; we belong to Christ. Consequently we also must refocus our lives.


The responsorial psalm puts it another way: “To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.”


Jesus puts it succinctly: “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven!”


Occasionally, we hear people say things like, "I don't get anything out of going to church," or "I don't feel anything when I pray," or any number of other excuses for not seeking the Kingdom of Heaven. Theologians have termed this “spiritual dryness”.


We learned, after the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, that she experienced spiritual dryness for years. Sometimes God allows this dryness to help us deepen our faith. We must, however, always ask ourselves the question, "Am I giving all that I might, to my prayer life?" God is always there. Maybe we are the ones who have stepped away or have turned our backs on Him.

Christ asked Simon to "put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch."   (Luke 5: 1-11) Then we are told that the apostles experienced a tremendous catch of fish. Perhaps if we step "out into the deep" ourselves, let go of our own agendas and our own way of doing things, then God can work through us.

I am reminded of the often heard and profound statement: "Let go and let God." That leads me to the next question: What is God going to do through me today?