Understanding Self-Annihilation in Christ

Divine Appeal Reflection - 144

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 144:  "I want you to understand and  annihilate yourself so that My Eternal Father may reign not only in you but to many more souls which you bring to Me."

The word “annihilate” in the spiritual life is often misunderstood. Jesus is not calling the soul to self-hatred, loss of dignity, or destruction of personality, for each person is created in God’s image and loved eternally . Rather, He calls for the death of the false self—the inner kingdom of pride, self-will, vanity, ego, and self-exaltation that seeks to replace God at the center. Since the fall of Adam and Eve , humanity has carried this hidden inclination toward self-rule and independence from God. This inner struggle appears in daily life: irritation when ignored, pain when unrecognized, defensiveness when corrected, or anxiety when control is lost. These moments reveal the ego quietly resisting God’s reign. Scripture shows that sin is often this exchange of God’s truth for self-glory (cf. Rom 1:21–25). Jesus therefore invites a deep interior dying so that He may live within the soul (cf. Gal 2:20). This “annihilation” is not destruction but liberation—the fading of the false self so that the true self, rooted in God, may arise in humility, freedom, and peace . A husband becomes angry because his opinion is ignored. A wife becomes discouraged because her sacrifices go unnoticed. A worker seeks praise more than service. A student desires success more than truth. Even spiritual people can subtly seek themselves through ministry, leadership, or apostolic works. Yet throughout Scripture, God consistently exalts those who allow self to decrease. John the Baptist (cf. Jn 3:30) accepted obscurity so that Christ might increase . Gideon learned that victory belonged to God and not human strength (cf. Judg 7:1-8). The Blessed Virgin Mary, through her humble fiat and canticle of praise (cf. Lk 1:38; 1:46–49), chose the lowest place before God and was raised by Him above all creatures as Queen of Heaven (cf. Rev 12:1). Her life reveals a fundamental spiritual law found throughout Scripture: those who humble themselves before God are exalted by Him . The saints teach that sanctity begins when the soul relinquishes its claim to self-sovereignty and allows God to occupy the throne of the heart that belongs to Him alone . This interior dying is often painful because fallen human nature clings to recognition, control, and self-will . Yet this self-emptying becomes the doorway to true liberty, for the soul is freed from the restless burden of self-occupation and enters the peace of living entirely for God’s glory (cf. Phil 2:5–11; Mt 11:28–30). As seen in Mary, the more the creature disappears into God's will, the more divine life shines through it, transforming surrender into fruitfulness, obscurity into greatness, and humility into a participation in the very life of heaven (cf. Jn 3:30; Lk 14:11; CCC 521).

A second profound dimension of this appeal lies in the words, "I want you to understand." Before God transforms a soul, He often illuminates it. Spiritual growth begins with truth. Many people spend years fighting external battles while remaining blind to the deeper attachments governing their lives. The rich young man (cf. Mk 10:17-22) sincerely desired eternal life, yet he failed to recognize how deeply attached he was to possessions . Martha loved Jesus, (cf. Lk 10:38-42) yet she needed to discover the primacy of His presence over activity . Jonah (cf. Jon 4:1-11) preached conversion but struggled to understand God's mercy toward sinners . Many Christians know their obvious faults but remain unaware of the deeper movements of the heart—quiet pride, hidden resentment, need for control, self-reliance, or the desire for recognition. Scripture  shows that the human heart can mislead even its owner . For this reason, God permits moments that quietly pierce our self-image—being misunderstood when we meant well, corrected when we felt sure, overlooked when we expected recognition, or left in long seasons of interior dryness.  A denied opportunity can reveal how deeply we are attached to status (cf. Mk 8:36); a conflict can expose how fragile our patience and humility truly are (cf. Jas 1:19–20); and silence in prayer can uncover how easily faith leans on feelings rather than pure trust in God . The saints recognized this as mercy. St. Ignatius of Loyola saw ambition purified through suffering. St. Francis of Assisi found freedom when stripped of security. St. Elizabeth of the Trinity taught that truth about oneself before God is the beginning of union with Him. Though painful, such light is healing. God does not reveal the heart to destroy it, but to free it. When truth enters, illusion falls away, and the soul becomes available for grace and real transformation .

A third dimension concerns the astonishing goal of this annihilation: "that My Eternal Father may reign in you." Christianity is not merely about avoiding sin; it is about establishing the reign of the Father within the soul. Jesus (cf. Jn 5:19; Jn 6:38) constantly directed attention toward the Father throughout His earthly life . Every aspect of His mission flowed from filial surrender. The Christian vocation is therefore participation in the Son's relationship with the Father . Yet the Father's reign is often resisted by subtle forms of self-rule. We want God's will when it agrees with our plans. We trust His providence until it contradicts our preferences. We surrender until surrender becomes costly.  Abraham (cf. Gen 12:1-4) left familiar securities because God called him . Joseph (cf. Gen 37-50) accepted years of hidden suffering and misunderstanding while trusting divine providence . Mary (cf. Lk 1:26-38)  consented to a mission she could not fully understand . Their greatness consisted not in extraordinary talents but in allowing God's will to reign. In practical life, the Father's reign appears in countless hidden choices. A spouse forgives rather than retaliates. A worker chooses integrity rather than dishonesty. A priest remains faithful amid discouragement. A young adult follows conscience rather than cultural pressure. An elderly person accepts physical limitations with trust. Each act becomes a declaration that God's kingdom matters more than personal preference. The Father's reign is not established through dramatic experiences but through daily surrender (cf. Mt 6:10; CCC 2816-2821).

A fourth and often overlooked dimension of the appeal is that self-annihilation is never merely personal. Jesus says that the Father's reign must extend "to many more souls which you bring to Me." This reveals the apostolic purpose of holiness. God does not purify souls simply for their own sanctification. He purifies them so they may become instruments of grace for others. Throughout Scripture, every deep encounter with God leads to mission. Moses encountered God in the burning bush and was sent to Israel (cf. Ex 3:1-10). Isaiah's (cf. Is 6:1-8) purification led to prophetic service . Paul  encountered Christ and immediately became an apostle .  Though genuine Christian contemplation never stays contained within the self, modern culture frequently views spirituality as something private, introspective, and self-contained. The heart is enlarged, not closed in on itself, and starts to bear the burden of others before God when it actually comes into contact with Him. Scripture shows that love of God and love of neighbour cannot be separated (cf. Mt 22:37–39), and that genuine abiding in Christ naturally bears fruit outwardly . The saints consistently show this movement: deep prayer leads not to isolation, but to mission, intercession, and concern for the salvation of others . In this way, contemplation becomes fruitful charity, where the soul, having been touched by divine love, begins to desire that others also be drawn into that same life. Parents who live holy lives evangelize children. Employers who act justly influence workers. Teachers who embody truth shape future generations. Religious who pray faithfully obtain graces for countless souls. A person truly surrendered to God becomes a channel through which divine life reaches others. The Father's reign within one soul becomes the seed of His reign in many souls (cf. Mt 13:31-33; CCC 863).

At the highest mystical level, this appeal reveals that self-annihilation is ultimately participation in the life of Christ Himself. The Son eternally receives everything from the Father and returns everything to Him in perfect love (cf. Jn 17:1-5). Jesus' earthly life manifested this eternal reality. From Bethlehem to Calvary , He continually emptied Himself in obedience and love .  St. John of the Cross describes a purification in which self-seeking gradually disappears.  St. Elizabeth of the Trinity longed to become a living praise of God's glory through complete surrender. This is the final meaning of the appeal. The goal is not self-destruction but self-transformation. The false kingdom of ego must diminish so that the Kingdom of the Father may expand. The soul slowly undergoes a quiet reordering of its deepest questions. It no longer lives under the pressure of the restless inquiry, “What do I want?” but begins to ask with growing simplicity and truth, “What gives glory to the Father?” This shift is not merely moral improvement, but interior conversion—a turning of the centre of gravity from self to God (cf. Mt 6:33; Rom 12:2). Scripture shows this as the renewal of the mind that discerns God’s will rather than the impulses of ego and desire (cf. Rom 12:2; Phil 2:13).  Scripture shows this reordering of desire as a conversion of the heart, where human intention is purified and aligned with God’s will (cf. Mt 6:33; Rom 12:2). The saints describe this as the slow death of self-centered living and the birth of a life ordered toward divine charity, where even ordinary actions become offerings when done for God . In this way, the soul learns to measure reality not by what it gains, but by how faithfully it loves in each moment . Then the Father's reign becomes visible. Christ lives more fully within the soul (cf. Gal 2:20). The Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:26-27) acts with greater freedom . Souls are drawn toward God through hidden witness. The person becomes transparent to divine life. Such souls are rare, yet they become some of the most powerful instruments in the history of salvation because they no longer seek their own kingdom but the eternal Kingdom of the Father .

Prayer 

Our Adorable Jesus, teach us to understand ourselves in Your light and surrender every trace of pride, self-will, and self-seeking. May the Eternal Father reign completely within us. Empty us of all that hinders grace and make our lives instruments through which many souls are drawn into Your Kingdom. Amen.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.