Today’s readings invite us to reflect upon the theme of rescue. According to Webster, rescue means “to free from confinement, danger, or evil: save, deliver.” In the first reading, God freed the apostles from prison, and in the second reading God “so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.”
We’ve been told that God will rescue us our entire lives. However, I think it is worth noting that God can only rescue us if we are in danger. God cannot rescue us when we are hiding from the world and “playing it safe.” Why? When we hide from the world, we face only self-inflicted dangers. God can’t interfere with our free will. He can’t interfere with whatever is bugging us deep inside. He can only rescue us when we are taking risks to serve Him. He can only rescue us when we are active in the world. For instance, in the first reading, the apostles were arrested for preaching the gospel. They weren’t sitting on their couches twiddling their thumbs thinking, “Oh gosh…I hope God comes to rescue me soon!” No, God won’t rescue you from yourself.
Well, what does this mean for me? It means that you have to find a way to take risks in your life, knowing that you might fail, but knowing that it’ll be okay. God can deal with failure. He can fix failure, but he will not fix inactivity. I’m not telling you to go skydiving or anything like that, but I am saying you that you have to find some kind of risk in your life. Maybe that means breaking out of your comfort zone and talking with someone you’ve never talked to before. Maybe it means volunteering somewhere you’ve never been. Maybe it means going to confession for the first time in 20 years. Maybe it means apologizing to someone you’ve hurt. Maybe it means asking that girl you’ve always wanted to ask out on a date. Maybe it means quitting your job. Maybe it means wearing a bright yellow dress on a Tuesday because it would be fun. Some way, some how find courage to take risks. God will be there for you if you fail! He can make crooked lines straight, but he will not draw lines while you stand still. He won’t break down walls in your heart that you’ve been building for years unless you remove the first brick.
C.S. Lewis once said,
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”
If you really want to find God, take risks. Break down walls because God can’t rescue someone who isn’t first in danger.
