gaze-on-jesus:

Only when all of our weaknesses are accepted as part of our humanity can our negative, broken self-images be transformed.

Jean Vanier, Becoming Human

Herein lies the conundrum: what is our negative, broken self-image? It may be different than we think. We look around ourselves and the noise from the world screams that we are someone – we should make our lives and the world in our own way. We have the power but we let our perceived weaknesses shroud our strength.

But according to Christ this is not true. It is our perception that we are powerful and strong that is the broken image. That we are someone on our own is the lie.

Without God we will wander into every sort of self-deception believing we are bending the world to our will. Yet the only thing bending is us.

How is it that God says the last shall be first? The meek inherit the earth? Followers must be the outcasts? Deny ourselves, pick up our cross and simply follow?