Brother Christopher shares on an Imaginary Conversation with God: I was praying in the chapel one day when God said, “Christopher, make an offering to Me.”

“Sure!” I said. “I offer you my prayers.”

“Thank you!” God said. “What else?”

I said, “I offer you my good works.”

“Great!” God said. “What else?”

“I offer you my sacrifices and penances”, I said.

“Good!” God said. “What else?”

“Umm… God’” I said, “What else is there?”

God said, “You haven’t offered me your weakness.”

“What!” I said, surprised. “Why would you want that old thing?”

“Because” God said, “I haven’t any of My own!”

I had to think about that.

Then I realized that if God wanted weakness, failure, or mortality, it would have to come from me. AMAZINGLY, God had so ordered things that little and wretched me could actually offer God something He didn’t have. In this way God made Himself my debtor. Talk about role reversals!

And God did take up our human wretchedness, weakness, sinfulness, and mortality. He took it to the Cross and made it all beautiful in the loving sacrifice of His Son for all mankind, in the ultimate act of Selfless Love. Blessed be God!

Peace and Joy in God’s salvation,

Your brothers of New Clairvaux