Letting Go

A few years ago I heard a story that went like this:

When a young girl turned 12 years old, her dad gave her a beautiful gift, a pearl necklace. These pearls weren’t real ones though, they were cheap imitation pearls. The young girl loved the gift so much she would put on the necklace every single night before going to bed, so when her dad came by to say goodnight, she always looked like a princess.

This continued for several years. When she turned 15, her dad began asking her to give him back the necklace. She had grown so attached to it, she couldn’t even think of giving it away. She was a bit resentful, how could her dad be asking her to return the gift? The dad didn’t stop asking. About twice a week when he went to say goodnight he’d have the same request.

About six months later, the girl, tired of her dad asking, hesitantly took off the necklace and gave it to him. The dad immediately pulled a beautifully wrapped box from his pocket and gave it to her. She opened it and could not believe her eyes, it was a beautiful pearl necklace. These weren’t imitation pearls, they were the finest Mikimoto pearls!

After the resurrection, the disciples were like the young girl unwilling to let go. They were unwilling to let go of Jesus. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdelene, Saint John tells us she literally grabbed on to him and Jesus said, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” Mary Magdelene and all other disciples are told to let go so that greater things may come.

Jesus had said many times he had to depart so that his followers could receive the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. This Spirit would guide them, teach them, and allow them to perform works greater than those performed by Jesus.

Eventually they did let go. Jesus departed forty days after his resurrection and greater things came: the descent of the Holy Spirit which strengthened them and allowed them to go out to preach to the ends of the world.

Phillip in the Acts of the Apostles let go of his own life and allowed Christ to work wonders through him in Samaria. Saint Peter in his letter reminds us that Jesus let go of his own life. He was put to death in the flesh, but he was brought to life in the Spirit and has saved us. By letting go, greater things came about.

The girl in the story had to let go to get something greater. The apostles and early disciples had to let go to get something greater.

Letting go is a good thing. Letting go leads to spiritual growth. Letting go can lead to greater things in life. What does God want you to let go of?

Perhaps this means letting go of the stale self-imposed routine or busyness to enjoy your family and children more?

Perhaps this means letting go of the desire to always have the best and the newest of everything?

Perhaps this means letting go of unneeded expenses and live within your means, so you don’t have to worry about a growing debt?

Perhaps this means letting go of bad habits that make you waste time, waste money, or tarnish your purity?

Perhaps this means letting go of selfish attitudes and become more mindful of the needs of those around you?

Perhaps this means letting go of your own life completely, to lose your life, so that you may find it again in Christ?

It’s scary, but God is holding a treasure chest full of good things for those who lose their lives for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus did say, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” We are all called to let go and to allow Christ to work wonders in our lives.

As we approach the end of the Easter Season with the celebration of the Ascension next weekend and Pentecost the following, ask the Lord to help you let go. Our life is not our own, it belongs to Christ. With fear of using an old cliché, we must learn to “let go and let God.”

The girl from the story let go and got a beautiful necklace.

The apostles let go and received the Holy Spirit.

Imagine what wonders God will do in your life if you only let go!