People discovered an ingenious method of capturing wild monkeys. They construct wire cages with openings just wide enough for the monkey to insert his hand. A shiny trinket is placed into the cage to attract the monkey. The monkey reaches into the cage and grabs the trinket in his fist. However, his clenched fist is too big to pull back through the wire opening. At that moment, the monkey stands in freedom outside the cage, but his fist is trapped inside the cage. The monkey doesn't realize that he must unclench his fist, let go of what he wants, and thereby be able to withdraw his hand and regain his freedom. He only knows that he wants his trinket, and he also wants his freedom, without realizing that he can't have both. Thus the monkey keeps straining to pull out both fist and trinket without success and is easily captured.
Are we like these monkeys? Do we keep trying to find a way to hang onto possessions, money, fears, compulsions, status, pleasures, past wounds, dreams, and many other things? Jesus tells us that we must renounce everything (Lk 14:33). We can't have both God and the things of the world (Mt 6:24; 1 Jn 2:15-17). If we try to have both, we'll be like the monkey and end up with neither.
Open wide your hands and place them in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. Let go and let God make you able to squeeze through the narrow door into His everlasting kingdom (Lk 13:24).
| PRAYER: | Father, help me live the "little way" like St. Therese. |
| PROMISE: | "Each one, whether slave or free, will be repaid by the Lord for whatever good he does." –Eph 6:8 |
| PRAISE: | Mary prays long and hard when she realizes she is holding onto something too tightly. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College