“Abandon yourself to Me! In this way you will make it easier for Me to act in your life and make it fruitful” (Inner Word).
This is the constant invitation our Father extends to us in various ways. He delights in establishing His abode in our souls forever and accompanying us through this life into eternity. He also wants to work with us for the salvation of souls.
For the great announcements, God first sends the angels, who bring the decisive message to men: the Archangel Gabriel announces to our beloved Virgin Mary the Incarnation of the Son of God, the angels announce the birth of the Savior to the shepherds in Bethlehem, the Archangel St. Michael announces to St. Joan of Arc the mission that God entrusts to her, and so on. But then it is men who are entrusted with the task of carrying out God’s work in the visible world.
This is particularly incumbent upon us, who today have the honor of going out with our Father in search of men, to lead them to the Kingdom of God.
To make our apostolate as fruitful as possible, today’s passage offers us essential guidance. We must do our part, abandoning ourselves to the One who called us. Jesus tells His disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” Many situations are beyond our control, and we must simply trust in the Lord as Peter did when he cast his nets again by Jesus’s word and obtained an abundant catch (cf. Lk 5:4-6).
Our Father can easily act when He finds an open soul that abandons itself unreservedly to Him. Then He does not have to start by removing our doubts, unnecessary objections, and personal ideas. Instead, He can naturally involve us in His wise plan. Thus, we become His word, His work, the executors of His plan—the instruments with which He can play the song of His love ever more delicately.
What about us? We have given the reins of our lives into His hands.