The reward of renunciation

Let it all go. It will be all right. You know that there is freedom in not possessing that which you may feel you have a right to. Everything you have and everyone you know belongs to God. He only allows them to you for a while in order to reveal His great love for you...to test your faith...to purify you of inordinate desires...to give you the opportunity to love as He did.

Jesus left this world the same way we all do...with nothing. Everything was taken from Him. His clothes. His mother. His own dignity. Yet He faced death with more acceptance than anyone who had ever lived.

You, too, are called to give everything up for the love of God. What must you surrender at this time? Lots. Name them one by one and release them into the hands of the Father.

Family. Friends. Health. Job. Students. Intellect. Will. Reputation. Pride. Spiritual consolations in prayer and in relationships with God and other souls. Love for all created things. The ability to simply love alone.

Why? Because in the end it'll be just you and Him. No one and nothing else will accompany you on the day of judgment. So what you have with Him has to be pure. It really has to be. Uncontaminated by disordered attachments to people and things.

This doesn't mean you stop loving or caring about those around you. It means that you are to love more deeply so that nothing of your love is selfish...not being disappointed if you lose them in one way or another. Knowing that He can use you as He wills...that He can use the people in your life in whatever way He deems best.

"Sell all that you have and give your money to the poor." Even if you follow all the commandments, God summons you to another level of holiness. This is an opportunity to really show your love for Him...if there is absolutely nothing standing in the way of you and Jesus. Making that choice to leave everything behind just to follow Him.

Asking yourself if it's worth it, but trusting in His promises. Choosing to let God raise the standard for you and begging Him for the grace to meet it.

In this way, you will see every "loss" as a definite gain.

"Come to terms with God and make peace; in this way you will prosper.
Listen to His teaching and keep His words in your heart.
If you return humbled to the Almighty,
if you drive injustice form your tent,
then you will look on gold as dust,
gold of Ophir as pebbles from a stream.
For the Almighty will be your gold and your sparkling silver.
For then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
You will pray to Him and He will hear,
and you will fulfill your vows.
You will succeed in your decision,
and light will shine upon your way.
For God brings down the proud and saves the downcast.
He who rescues the innocent man,
will rescue you too if your hands are clean." (Job 22:21-30)