This Sunday’s first reading explores the challenges we place on ourselves and the freedom that comes with putting our lives in God’s care (Wisdom 9:13-18b):
Who can know God’s counsel,
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
Seeking the will of God is less about burdening ourselves to find all the hidden answers to our concerns but is rather an opportunity to maintain our principles while accepting life as it is in this moment.
In the Twelve Steps, the act of surrendering, letting go, and turning our will and lives over to God’s care follows an honest Step 1 inventory. With the consequences of managing our lives on our own written out in front of us, it becomes easier to let God call the shots. More formally, we might refer to this as fear of the Lord. In recovery, fear of the Lord is manifested in our willingness to be held accountable.
Summarizing Emmet Fox, God does not need to be the only thing in our lives, but He must be the first thing. As our relationship with Him grows, we notice that we’re less attached to our own expectations and begin to trust that He will give directions as needed.
“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple,” Jesus declares in this Sunday’s Gospel reading as He stresses the importance of establishing a strong spiritual foundation (Luke 14:27). “In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple,” He adds (Luke 14:33). Instead of just surrendering on our own terms, a full surrender is necessary for recovery.
Accepting and adapting to the world around us takes time and practice. Each time we pause, suspend judgment, and ask God for direction, we grow in our capacity to let go. Instead of thinking too much about outcomes, we show up where we’re needed, take the next right action, allow ourselves to be accountable to a group and to trusted individuals, and enjoy the freedom that God gives us, one day at a time.
Reflection Questions
- What expectations have you needed to let go of in order to find sobriety and serenity?
- What was helpful to establish a strong spiritual foundation in the early phases of your recovery?
- How do you allow yourself to be held accountable in recovery?
Sunday Mass Readings
First Reading: Wisdom 9:13-18b
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
Second Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Download printable meeting reflections:
General Recovery | Recuperación General
Family & Friends Recovery | Recuperación para Familiares
Lust Addiction Recovery | Recuperación de Adicción Sexual
ACDH Recovery | Recuperación HAHD
Download virtual meeting reflections:
General Recovery | Recuperación General
Family & Friends Recovery | Recuperación para Familiares
Lust Addiction Recovery | Recuperación de Adicción Sexual
ACDH Recovery | Recuperación HAHD