"Die Empty" - Family Reflection Video

One of the most beautiful books to read is "Die Empty" by Todd Henry.

The author was inspired and got the idea of writing this book while attending a business meeting. When the director asked the audience: "Where is the richest land in the world?"

One of the audiences answered: "Oil-rich Gulf states."

Another added: "Diamond mines in Africa."

Then the director said: "No, it is the cemetery. Yes, it is the richest land in the world, because millions of people have departed, 'they have died,' and they have carried many valuable ideas that did not come to light and benefit others. It is all in the cemetery where they are buried."

Inspired by this answer, Todd Henry wrote his book "Die Empty." Where he did his best to motivate people to pour out their ideas and potential energies in their communities and turn them into something useful before it was too late.

The most beautiful of what he said in his book is: "Do not go to your grave and carry inside you the best that you have. Always choose to die empty.”

We heard in the first reading that our God is an awesome God who keeps his covenantal relationship of love with us. However weak and sinful we are, God sees the good in us and forgives us. In today's Gospel reading from Luke, we hear the words of Jesus calling us, to be merciful, be forgiving, stop judging, stop condemning, and be a giver.

We are not people of the grave but people of the resurrection. When we go to the Lord on the last day, can we go with “our emptiness?” Will we be able to say, Lord, I used every gift, every talent you gave me? I performed the ideas I had for the good of others, I shared the knowledge I had, I achieved the goal I had; I shared the love I had. I emptied myself for others as you emptied yourself for me.

Lord,
I believe there is an ocean of goodness within me.
Help me to empty the goodness within me for the love of You
and others so that I can come to God as an empty vessel.
Help me to start the race today,
beginning with my family.
Amen.