Am I Doing the Will of God?
ONE
We want to know Jesus better to deepen our friendship with Him and to become like Him. The most important thing for Jesus was to fulfill the will of the Father. Hebrews 10:7 tells us that on coming into the world Jesus said: God, here I am! I am coming to do your will.
St Faustyna writes in her Diary (515) In the evening, when I was walking in the garden saying my rosary and came to the cemetery, I opened the gate a little and began to pray for a while, and I asked them interiorly (the souls buried there), “You are very happy are you not? Then I heard the words, “We are happy in the measure that we have fulfilled God’s will” – and then silence as before. I became introspective and reflected for a long time on how I am fulfilling God’s will and how I am profiting from the time that God has given me.
If we want to be happy, then we want to do and accept the will of God in all things. So let us ask the question Faustyna asked: How am I doing in fulfilling and accepting God’s will. 0-10, how would I rate myself and why?
TWO
How do we know the will of God? There are two primary ways:
The will of God comes to us in two forms: His absolute and His permissive will
God’s absolute will is the design He gives to the world and to all people to share in His life and become a saint according to our vocation. God’s permissive will is what He allows to happen.
First, God has revealed His will in general to all people through His revelation handed down by Scripture, Tradition and the Official Teachings of the Catholic Church. The best summary of the Revelation of God and His will in general is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Therefore, if we want to know the will of God in general, we will read and know the Catechism. Many people get upset and confused by what the media says Pope Francis has said, especially about civil unions of same-sex couples. Do not listen to the media. Instead – know what Christ teaches through the Catechism. That teaching cannot change. I have a 24-part audio and video series on the CCC available for free on our website and the Holy Family School of Faith You Tube channel to help you know the CCC.
God has already made known to us His will in general through His commandments, the teachings of the Catechism and the duties of our state in life. We should know these, love these and do these.
THREE
The second way God makes His will known, is by His permissive will; what He allows to happen. The will of God is the ultimate cause of everything that happens. God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of moral evil. He permits it, however, because he respects the freedom of his creatures and, mysteriously, knows how to derive good from it: St. Augustine writes: For almighty God. . ., because he is supremely good, would never allow any evil whatsoever to exist in his works if he were not so all-powerful and good as to cause good to emerge from evil itself.
Nothing happens that has not been foreseen by God from all eternity and willed or permitted by Him.
God could not will or permit anything that is not in conformity with the purpose for which he created us, namely that we share in His life.
All things contribute in some way to the good of those who love God and persevere in his love.
The events or circumstances that we cannot control or change we accept as coming from the hand of God - things He permits for our greater good – so we accept them by thanking God for them. If we can’t thank Him then we refuse to accept them. Gratitude is the key to acceptance.
The more we conform our will to the will of God, in the things He wills or permits, the more good, holy, wise and powerful we become. Nothing evil can harm us, because everything God permits to happen to us will contribute to our greater good if we know how to be grateful for them.
FOUR
The key to accept peacefully what God permits, especially when they appear bad or very bad to us is Gratitude and Holy Indifference.
We do not know what God has decreed for our future, but we do know some things for certain: that the will of God is the supreme cause of all things; that the divine will is essentially the best for us; that all things, adverse or prosperous, contribute to the good of those who love God. Therefore, we should strive to do the will of God and at the same time be grateful and indifferent to what happens.
This Holy Indifference, according to St Ignatius of Loyola is the foundation of happiness: It is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in everything that is granted to the liberty of our free will and is not prohibited (meaning all sin), in such ways that we do not prefer health to sickness, wealth to poverty, honor to dishonor, a long life to a short life, and likewise in everything else, but desire and choose that which leads us to holiness and the glory of God.
FIVE
Every day, in the little things and the big things, practice gratitude and indifference to what God allows in your life.
Lord, I am grateful my tire is flat, and I am late for my appointment.
Jesus I am grateful these plans of mine have gone so well.
Jesus I am grateful these other plans did not turn out as I wanted. I have gained experience.
Jesus I am grateful there is a person in my life who is very difficult. I can’t change them, and they do not need to change for me to be happy. I am happy with your will; with whatever you allow in my life. I am indifferent. All I want is that your will be done.
Everyday, let us make the choice to practice, in little things and the big things, gratitude and indifference to what God allows that we cannot change. For gratitude and indifference are the path to freedom, power and perfect joy.