De La Mennais Brothers: Making Jesus Christ better known and loved by young people

The David + Goliath story reading came up in our weekday Mass liturgy recently. I came across an old 2003 newsletter from BibleGeek a few days later (see below). He gives an interpretation of the story that links it to the theme of abandon to God and letting go in trust that I discussed in my previous post. Mark Hart aka BibleGeek ( LifeTeen.com ) on Letting Go - the David + Goliath story. LIFE TEEN Presents Spread the WORD “David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground.”– 1 Samuel 17:49 SITUATION EXPLAINED Are you a “control freak” like I am? SOLUTION OFFERED When I’m in a car, I like to be the one driving. When I’m watching television, I like to have the remote control. When I’m going out to eat, I like to choose the restaurant. When I’m renting a movie, I like to have the final say. Okay, I’ll admit it – I’m a control freak. It’s tr...

This idea of abandon to God's will as an active undertaking is a theme that I've meditated on quite a bit, especially recently: the paradox of being called to hand over everything in one's life to God, to abandon ourselves to his will and yet, at the same time, to have the dynamism, fire, energy and courage to engage in fresh undertakings, to take initiatives in his name, taking such risks in faith, banking on his Spirit to guide hearts and minds, hands and feet. In this context I have been thinking a lot recently about St. Peter at the lakeside in Jn 21, sitting and talking with Jesus (the famous "Do you love me?" conversation). An image at the end of this dialogue never ceases to frighten and yet inspire me: when Jesus says to Peter " 'I tell you solemnly, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where yo...