‘Give it up!’
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Fr. Matthew Gomez
Although I was born in the greatest city in the world – Hialeah, Florida! – my family and I lived in one of Hialeah’s suburbs, Miami Lakes. I grew up in a town big enough to have great diversity but small enough that we knew each other, which means we often ran into our neighbors at the supermarket and in restaurants.
One of those neighbors was a hometown legend: none other than Grammy Award winner Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band.
My parents would discreetly and respectfully point him out to us. We knew that once we got into the car, the CD player would start playing that awesome disco/funk music.
I grew up with KC and the Sushine Band music. While my classmates were jamming to *NSYNC, Savage Garden, and the Spice Girls, I remember doing chores to “Boogie Shoes.” I remember going to Pro Player Stadium and singing along to “Get Down Tonight” during one of the concert series hosted by the Florida Marlins. There are countless other experiences with his music, but no song was more fun or catchy than “Give It Up.”
Recently, I heard the song again, and I realized – viewed through the eyes of faith, the lyrics can teach us a powerful lesson about trusting God with our life journey:
Everybody wants you
Everybody wants your love
I'd just like to make you mine, all mine
Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na-na now
Baby, give it up
Give it up
Baby, give it up
Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na-na now
Baby, give it up
Give it up
Baby, give it up
Everybody sees you
Everybody looks and stares
I'd just like to make you mine, all mine
As I reflect upon the lyrics, I am reminded that the world wants all of my love, but Jesus wants me to be His, all His. He invites each of us to “give it up” and be His wholeheartedly.
For each one of us, that “it” that we need to give up is personal. Can we hear the voice of the Lord inviting us to put out into the deep and give up our control, our desires, our fears, so that we can be His, all His?
Jesus’ invitation is clear and simple: “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28). If I hold on to what I want, who I perceive myself to be, or what the world calls me, it is very difficult to answer His invitation. He invites us to rest in his most Sacred Heart – and that means I must give it all up!
In his pivotal work, The Way, St. Josemaría Escrivá offers short, thought-provoking maxims that lead us to deep meditation and contemplation. Following this theme of surrender, he states:
The wholehearted acceptance of the will of God is the sure way of finding joy and peace: happiness in the cross. It’s then we realize that Christ’s yoke is sweet and that his burden is not heavy. (758)
When faced with Scripture and the writings of the saints, we are forced to ask ourselves some tough questions.
What is holding us back?
What am I holding onto that keeps me from giving myself up to my Heavenly Father?
Why am I holding onto this thing?
Why am I giving more power to “everybody (who) wants and sees me,” instead of entrusting my life to the One who knows me better than I know myself?
The Lord’s invitation to come to Him, to give it up, is repeated every day, multiple times a day. How privileged are we that the Creator of the Universe, who is never outdone in generosity, will give us so much more than whatever was holding us back.
May we heed the invitation of JC (Jesus Christ) and be courageous to do what KC (Harry Wanye Casey) tells us: “Baby, Give it Up.”
