The Choice
4th Sun. of Easter
Jn. 10: 11-18
Some years ago I was counseling one of my novices who had
received an unpleasant directive. In the
course of our exchange, she asked what she no doubt considered a rhetorical
question, “I don’t have any choice, do I?”
But I responded, “Yes you do; you have the choice to do it willingly or
to do it unwillingly.” She did not like
this answer. Neither do I when it comes
to be my turn to accept something that goes against the grain of my will.
Jesus laid down His life with the full freedom that was His
as God. Unlike Him, we often have no
control over the manner and timing of our death nor of the many daily dyings to
our selfishness that present themselves unfailingly in the trials and
tribulations of life. I wonder if we did
have the choice, how many of us would choose crucifixion. At any rate, when faced with the inevitable,
we do have the choice to lay down our lives willingly or unwillingly. If we do so willingly, then, like Jesus, we
will experience a resurrection, a new surge of life and spiritual energy. It may, however, take longer than 3
days. Sometimes it is more like three
weeks, or three months or maybe 3 years, or even 3 decades! It is also possible that we may have to wait
until eternity dawns. But however long
it takes, that new life will be ours.
One of the advantages of growing older (as opposed to growing old) is
that we have had the time to experience this ourselves. Those of you who have the misfortune to be
young simply have to take it on faith. But take it from me as one who is growing
older, that after you have been through the death, resurrection cycle again and
again, you finally start getting the idea. That is, if you at least make the
attempt to do it willingly, to conform your will to that of our Heavenly Father
as Jesus did.
On this Good Shepherd Sunday and day of prayer for
vocations, I pray that all who are called to lay down their lives for their
brothers and sisters as priests or religious may have the freedom of love to do
so. May they know that hundredfold
reward promised by the Lord and joyfully sing that new song which only those
who follow the Lamb may sing!
Comments