CLENCHED FISTS

When I was a child, the adults used to test our strength by clenching their fists and telling us to open one finger after the other until the palm is open. I have not tried this one the young ones I know, I don’t know how or why, what I remember is that the game was really tough as the adults had a lot of strength and the whole idea of opening the fingers was so hard that you gave up with trying the small finger.Our fingers were small and their fingers were big – It was just impossible.

There comes to contrast, a baby fist which is so easy to open, though it always opens up for seconds, before closing up again.

Yes, this is our life. It would be so weird if you tried holding someone’s hands and they clenched their fists. It would be very odd if we were to place a gift in someone’s palm and then they closed up. We’d surely feel so unappreciated or misunderstood. We’d find ourselves pleading, “ I mean no harm.”

I think Jesus finds Himself in this situation with us, almost all the time. He asks us to spread out our palms to receive Him, to do good works. To let go of our strongly held beliefs, and to believe in Him instead. To let go of wealth and rely on Him, but we scarcely can let go, there is so much warmth in the clenched fist, in vain glory on social media. In the collective sympathy that I receive when I post my problems instead of addressing them to someone I know can help me. There is a lot of warmth in the group of friends who don’t take their faith seriously, and I can’t afford losing them over a Sunday Mass…. and there Jesus is, still pulling the small finger from the fist, pleading patiently, “ I mean you no harm… I want the best for you. I will be your best friend if they leave you… I will take care of your finaces if you leave that dishonest endeavour… I will show you the father….. believe in me… I will grant solutions to your problems if you pray…”

When I was a child, I always gave up, but Jesus will not give up on us. He respects our freedom altogether. He will not act until we let him to…. and I’ll tell you once again, He means you no harm.