Holding Back Nothing

Holding Back Nothing

The book explores the concept of spiritual freedom and the need to let go of worldly attachments in order to achieve true liberation. It argues that many people are held back by their own fears, desires, and expectations, which prevent them from living a life of authenticity and purpose. The text examines the tension between the desire for security and stability on one hand, and the need for risk-taking and surrender on the other. It suggests that individuals must be willing to let go of their attachments in order to experience true freedom and happiness. Throughout the book, the author draws on spiritual traditions from around the world, including Christianity, Buddhism, and indigenous cultures. He argues that these traditions offer a common wisdom about the nature of reality and the human condition, and that they can provide a framework for living a more authentic and meaningful life. Ultimately, the book is an invitation to readers to embark on a journey of spiritual discovery and growth, one that requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to let go of everything that holds them back.

By Jorge Mario Bergoglio · First published 2020 · Genre: Theology, Spirituality, Religious Non-Fiction · 1,746 words

First lines

THE TEXT with which I first introduced this theme of Christ's self-emptying contained allusions and exhortations regarding our own conduct. I would like now to speak of how we personally relate to what was said about the immolation of Jesus and about his priesthood. I have already said something about this in passing, but I would like now to stress what I consider to be the true backbone of Christian behavior, and I do so without using adjectives, as if the simple fact of "being Christian" was not enough. We experience in our daily lives a certain inability-even a certain resistance-to take on ourselves all that is implied in Jesus' "entering in patience. " The letter to the Hebrews warns us: "We must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it" (Heb 2: 1). The inability I speak of comes from our failure to discover the glory of God in the mystery of the living Jesus Christ. The patient, devastated Christ is God's glory. The risen Christ, glorious in flesh and spirit, is God's glory. Our inability to appreciate this glory is what makes it difficult for us to draw out the consequences of what we have seen and heard. Jesus told his adversaries: "I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? " (John 5: 41-44). Here is the origin of the rejection of the mystery of Jesus the Christ, whether the rejection be blatant or craftily camouflaged. Our hearts are more prone to accept glory from others than to give glory to God; we are more ready to receive those who come in their own name than those who come in God's name. We prefer to converse and discuss rather than to pray and proclaim.

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Holding Back Nothing is listed on Textopian as an essay by Jorge Mario Bergoglio, dated 2020 CE.

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Spirituality · Self-Discovery · Personal Growth · Faith · Catholicism · Pope Francis · Leadership · Inspiration · Motivation · Reflection · Meditation · Prayer

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