Masters of the Meaning

     “Our freedom always has this marvelous power to make what is taken from us – by life, events, or other people – into something offered. Externally there is no visible difference, but internally everything is transfigured: fate into free choice, constraint into love, loss into fruitfulness. Human freedom is of absolutely unheard-of greatness. It does not confer the power to change everything, but it does empower us to give a meaning to everything, even meaningless things; and that is much better. We are not always masters of the unfolding of our lives, but we can be masters of the meaning we give them. Our freedom can transform any event in our lives into an expression of love, abandonment, trust, hope, and offering.”                                                                                          Fr. Jacques Phillipe


     Life is not fair! Innocent people suffer. Family and friends betray us. Good people get sick, lose their jobs, their house, their finances, or their lives. We sometimes struggle to take the next step, only to get knocked down by something else. When these things happen, how do we keep our inner peace? How do we believe and trust that, in spite of the circumstances, God still loves us? What can we do to acquire the freedom that Fr. Jacques writes about?


     We must first believe, from the top of our head, to the bottom of our toes, that God the Father is our Papa, and He will never allow anything to happen to us that is not ultimately for our good – in the scheme of our salvation. We must also believe that God is faithful and will not abandon or forsake us. He will give us the grace, the strength, and the inspiration we need to handle the situation – regardless of the severity. God can and will use these situations to sanctify us, if we cooperate and trust Him completely.

     Now, this does not mean that we won’t still suffer or fall. What it does mean is we will realize its not useless suffering, but a path to holiness and freedom.  It is the way Jesus, and Mary lived their lives, each and every day. They trusted the Father, even when life was difficult and painful. They lived in freedom, offering all to the Father, in complete abandonment. They believed, even when life’s circumstances dictated otherwise. We only have to look at the crucifix to see the extent of Their love, abandonment, trust, hope and offering to the Father.

     God can and will give us this special grace and freedom. It is there for our taking, but it’s our recognition of the gift that is often missing. We need to recognize and walk in this grace. Going to God first will enable us to do so. With practice it will become second nature to us. When we “life happens,” and we are tempted to shake our fist at God – pray instead. Beg God to allow us to be open to the grace to surrender the situation and walk in freedom. Ask God to use this suffering for your sanctity, and for the sanctity of those who are involved. Beseech Jesus and Mary, asking for the grace of peaceful abandonment to the ordaining and permissive will of God. Pray for strength and perseverance, when you want to give in to hopelessness and despair.

     Do not lose hope! In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, “My soul is sorrowful even to death” (Mk 14 vs 34a). He asked for His apostles to pray for Him. He fell to the ground and prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to You. Take this cup away from Me, but not what I will but what You will” (Mk 14 vs 36). Christ fell three times on His way to the Cross. Jesus was both man and God and depended upon His Father for strength – why do we think we can do it on our own???

     Like Jesus and Mary, we must learn to abandon ourselves completely to the will of God. In doing so, we will become free and not be held hostage by the deceit of the devil. He will not hold the power over our perception of the events in our lives. With God’s grace and help, we will become masters of the meaning we give them.

     Become transfigured, by walking on God’s path to holiness and freedom.

     “Two men looked out from prison bars. One saw mud, the other saw stars.” Dale Carnegie