Reflections | SELF-CENTEREDNESS

Msgr. Don Fischer reflects on the difference between surrender and control.

I'm going to talk about a self centered spirituality. It's so seductive. It's so easy. You listen to the gospel, you listen to someone in a pulpit preaching to you. You're called to be the best possible person you can be, and you spend all your time self reflecting, looking at yourself, trying to make sure that your behavior is on a certain level. And it's all about you. 

And it's so interesting to me. The shadow of that is so dark because what it means is it's not about you. Religion is not about your sin, that's not the focus. The focus is on a person, a God, God, the father revealed fully to you through Jesus. He's looking at you and he's saying, look, you're like me. I'm like you. I know you. And what I want of you is not that you control your behavior or that you start acting in a certain way and that you're constantly judging yourself. No, that's not it. It's allowing me to enter into you and show you things about me. And if you can experience me as the source of goodness and love, that transforms you. Not the pressure to be better than you are. But it's a mysterious resonance of love. Love that comes to you from God does all of the work. 

The result is radically different than a person who is absolutely well-trained and well disciplined in being a good person. They're obnoxious to be around, you know, they're just not present. They're performing, and God is not interested in your performance. He's interested in your heart, and he wants to change it. And the only way he can change it is if you open your eyes and see him as he is. He is a loving transforming father, brother, sister, friend. He's everything you longed for in terms of support. And when you do the work yourself without realizing it, you cut off his support and nothing is more dangerous and more counterproductive.

Have a great day.

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Kyle Cross