Followers of Jesus are called to grapple with the surrendering of our rights, even our right to be right, in our pursuit of authentic, sacrificial love.
As we journey with Jesus, we find ourselves caught in a divine conundrum that defies the norms of a world steeped in self-preservation and assertiveness. This conundrum is an invitation to an alternate path, one that isn’t guided by our rights or entitlements, but by selfless love and humility.
Jesus is our example of this radical approach. The divine word made flesh, He relinquished His heavenly status, choosing instead to walk among us. He gave up his divine right, putting on mortality and vulnerability, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. This was no passive surrender but an active, intentional act of love.
So, what does this mean for us?
We are invited to tread a similar path. Our interactions, our relationships, and our very lives are a canvas to paint this picture of selfless love. When we surrender our need to be right, we make space for empathy. We lay down our expectations and instead, learn to listen, understand, and validate.
This is not an invitation to be taken advantage of or to surrender our dignity. Rather, it is a call to embody the spirit of Jesus. To lead with love and humility, even in the face of conflict or disagreement. It’s about recognizing that our ultimate right, and indeed our ultimate calling, is to love as He loved us.
Choosing to follow Jesus is a radical departure from our innate desire for self-preservation. It demands sacrifice, a laying down of rights, a prioritizing of others. Yet, in this sacrifice, we find ourselves drawn closer to God, participating in His grand narrative of love and redemption.
It’s a difficult task, to be sure. It asks us to swim against the current of societal expectations, relinquish the fortress of self, and embrace vulnerability. But in this surrender, we do not lose ourselves. Rather, we gain a deeper understanding of who we truly are and who we are called to be.
The journey of faith is a paradoxical balance between surrender and fulfillment, sacrifice and gain, death and life. As we echo Jesus in laying down our rights, we find that we gain something far more valuable – an intimacy with Him, a richer love for others, and a truer sense of our own selves.
May we all find the courage to surrender, to love, and to tread this paradoxical path that leads to life. The sacrifice is great, but the reward – the opportunity to love as Jesus loved us – is infinitely greater.
