“Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will…”
Our Psalm Response today is “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will…” It is a great undertaking to discern the will of God.
Saints, Scholars, men and women from all times have asked the question “What is the will of God for me in this decision?”
St. Ignatius of Loyola developed a whole method for Discerning God’s will.
Saints like Joseph, St. Alphonsus, and St. Therese of Lisieux can intercede and help us know God’s will.
Underlying all of these is the example we have in Jesus. Jesus and His perfect fulfillment of God’s will in every moment of His life. At times, that meant gathering with friends in Bethany, at Lazarus’ house. It may have meant dining with Zacheus, the descendent of Abraham, or many of the other people we see enjoying Jesus’ company in the scriptures.
But at other times, that will of God embraced difficulty. The truth that Jesus witnessed to was rejected. He had no place to lay His head. When Peter found Him praying after a glorious day of healings and miracles…Jesus moved on…to the next place…the next group of people He was sent to. He followed the will of God. He followed those Beatitudes he taught and lived…and that was not always easy. In Gethsemane we get the ultimate example of following God’s Will, as the testimony of Jesus’ very words verify: “…not my will but yours be done…”
In pondering the will of God…
In pondering Jesus’ fulfillment of the will of God….
In considering the Beatitudes in our lives…
I believe discerning the will of God often will come down to two choices…one easier, more comfortable…and one more demanding, more difficult, even involving suffering. Very often, not always, but very often, God’s will can be found in the more difficult path…the more challenging option. The beauty of discerning God’s will with this in mind, is that we have a God who knows and will help us as we embrace that will…
-Rev. Christopher Uhl
