By Sister Myriam, O.C.D.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals yet another counter-cultural truth. He, who is the picture of perfect human maturity, “can do nothing without His Father”. He does “only what He sees the Father doing.” He CHOSE to live like that! Does that make your heart shrink? There are so many ways our modern culture urges us to “dream our own dreams” to “make things happen.” Of course, there is nothing wrong with desiring greatness; in fact, we were made for it. The problem is that so often we try to do it on our own. We cling to control, security or self-image and trade real, lasting fruitfulness for predictable achievements. If we are honest, we end up feeling empty, discouraged and disappointed.
As children, we long for the day we can “sit at the adult table” or for the thrilling independence of getting our driver’s license. We think that maturity means spreading our wings and standing on our own two feet. But what if true maturity is something different? What if true maturity means realizing that I am not self-sufficient; that I can’t bear fruit on my own? When Jesus said “without Me you can do NOTHING” it wasn’t just a cute, pious phrase. He really meant it and what’s more, He LIVED it. We need God and it’s precisely this constant, radical dependence on Him that yields abundant fruit. When we accept our own inner poverty and gift it to the Father, He sends His Spirit to blow through us and all the gifts and the fruits of His Spirit become ours. The Father wants His abundant life to pulse through you, to fill you to the brim. The question is – are you willing to “risk” depending on Him?
