The Father’s Will 

   “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.” (Matt 7: 21) 

   Jesus said that He had come, not to do His will, but the will of the Father.  Consider that for a moment.  The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, God Himself, chose to become obedient to the will of the Father.  Obedient even to death on a cross.  If our Lord and Savior chose to serve the Father’s will so completely, how can we expect a heavenly reward if we do less?

   When I consider what it means to do the will of the Father, the first thing I realize is that I must give up my will.  I must join Jesus in saying, “Not my will but yours be done.” (Matt 26: 39).  This means that I must accept whatever comes willingly and patiently, always trusting that God’s will is the path to Heaven though I may not understand how.

   Jesus also said that I must love my neighbor as myself.  That too is the will of the Father.  If I do not have love, not just for those who love me but even for those I might consider my enemies I will not pass through those pearly gates.  Christ is in each of us; if I refuse to love my neighbor I am refusing to love Jesus.

   I must also deny myself, pick up my cross daily and follow Christ if I am to do the will of the Father. (Mark 8: 34).  The crosses I bear will never be more difficult than those carried by Jesus.  His whole life was one of carrying crosses.  The cross of rejection, betrayal, abuse, and finally the horrible death of the cross on Calvary.

   Following the will of God will not always be easy, but I do not bear my crosses alone.  God’s desire is that no one be lost and, when I am overwhelmed by life, unable to carry on, He gives me peace, comfort, hope, and the strength to continue.  The path may be difficult at times, but the destination is worth any price I may be asked to pay.

 

 Miracles 

   “The moment we open ourselves up to God’s plans is the moment miracles begin to happen in our lives.” (Matthew Kelly, “Resisting Happiness”) 

   Those who do not know God never see the many miracles that occur each and every day.  They see what they call coincidences and simple acts of nature.  They never stop to ask why a coincidence occurs sometimes and not others or who created the nature that causes all those simple acts of nature.

   On the other hand, those who believe and trust in God see His hand in so many things.  A grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, but from that simple fact a new plant is born, producing thousands of new grains of wheat.  I'm sure biologists can explain all the science that goes into that fact, but they can never explain who created that science.

   A single male sperm joins with a single female egg cell and a new human being is created.  Not a mass of cells, but a human being.  From the very instant of conception a new human genome is created.  One that has never existed before and will never be repeated.

   I was once in a discussion with a self-proclaimed atheist who was touting the “big bang theory” as if it negated intelligent creation by an all-knowing, all powerful Creator.  I reminded them that it was a Catholic priest in Germany who first proposed the big bang.  When I told them that I have no problem with the big bang theory, but I would like for them to tell me who lit the fuse that set it off, they were speechless.

   Miracles are a part of life.  They can be denied, they can be misunderstood, but they are reality.  Every day, in every walk of life, a loving, caring, merciful God causes miracles to occur.  Sometimes in the most unexpected places, like the heart of an atheist who finally accepts the truth that is God.

 

 

 The Journey’s End 

   “Even the hairs on your head have all been counted.” (Luke 12: 7) 

   I am now seventy-three years old and well aware that my journey in this life is nearing its end.  Only God knows when that day will come, but common sense tells me most of my life on this earth is behind me.

   This knowledge has an impact upon me.  It causes me to pause, remembering the many blessings God has bestowed upon me as well as the many times I have offended Him by my sins.  I find myself considering whether I am ready for the judgement that is to come.  It is a sobering thought.

   In my youth I pretty much ignored my mortality.  As the saying goes, I was ”ten foot tall and bulletproof.”  That foolish thought has been proven wrong so many times.  Few are concerned about preparing spiritually for death in their youth, but death sometimes comes in youth with little or no warning.

   When I am judged I believe it will be not by any good I may have done but by the love with which it was done.  I can give thousands to charity, doing much good for many, but if my intent is not to share the love of God it is of no use.  Charity and donations simply to increase tax deductions or gain recognition are of no use to my spiritual well-being.

   “Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brethren of mine, you did for me.” (Matt 25: 40).  Judgement will come and my eternal dwelling place will be determined.  If I have loved others, I have loved my Lord; if not, I have not loved my Lord.  Jesus, I love you, help me to love you more.

 

 Pray Always 

   “Whatever you ask for in faith-filled prayer, you will receive.” (Matt 21:22) 

   St. Monica is a beautiful example of how to place all in the hands of God.  She prayed for many years for the conversion of her wayward son.  She never pushed or prodded, she simply placed him in the hands of God.  Her prayers were answered and her son, St. Augustine, not only came to God but became one of the greatest Saints of the Church.

   I take heart in St. Monica and her persistence in prayer.  I too pray for the souls of my children, and grandchildren as well as friends.  God listened to St. Monica, and I know He listens to me.  I may not see the answer to my prayers in this lifetime, but I know they will not go unanswered.

   I have concluded that this is the same path I need to take in all that is wrong in the world.  I can do virtually nothing to change the world, this nation, or society as a whole.  So I’ve decided to quit complaining about how things are and will instead pray, placing it all in God’s hands.  I can think of no better way to address the evils of the world than trusting in God.

   I will do what little I can, like trying to vote wisely even though I fear it is a matter of voting for the lesser of two evils.  I will not shy away from speaking up when the opportunity to defend God and His ways arise.  I will try to live my life so that my faith is evident in all I do and in the way I treat everyone I meet.

   But above all, I will persist in prayer.  I will pray “Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 54: 4).  I will not insist on the answer I may think is right but accept the will of God in all things.  Above all I will trust in God’s love and providence in all things, knowing that, in the end, God wins.

 

 A Society in Darkness 

   “And the judgement is this: the light has come into the world, but people preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil.  (John 3: 19) 

   I have often used this blog to vent my frustrations with our government.  The reality is that the government, and those who are elected to run it, are simply a reflection of the society that votes them into office. 

   Since it is society that selects the government it is only natural that those in government want to satisfy as many of the people as they can, hence bowing to the whims of society.  If a majority of voters want it, a government of political careerists will find a way to provide it.  Reelection is their goal, not the good of the nation.

   Society is the illness and society must be the cure.  As the number of people in this country who claim no religious affiliation grows, it becomes less and less likely that the government will change.  People are inclined to desire what they want, and they will elect a government that will give it to them.

   Successfully converting a corrupt society to one of faith is difficult and may well be impossible.  Rather, corrupt society will persecute the faithful and do all they can to silence them.  A government elected by a corrupt society will acquiesce and even support such efforts.  As Christians we must ask ourselves how we can promote change in a corrupt and evil society.

   Perhaps we can’t change society.  Maybe we will go the route of destruction as so many evil societies have.  But we can try.  We can live our faith in all aspects of our lives.  We can refuse to be silenced, professing our love of God by our example.  We can have the courage and faith to rebuke an evil society and maybe, just maybe, begin to change it.

 

 Peace of Soul 

   “The secret of peace of soul is to combine detachment from evil with attachment to God.” (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) 

   We all seek peace of soul.  Even those who don’t know God seek this peace though they may not associate it with God.  But true peace comes only from God, so without Him the search for peace is futile.

   We cannot find peace of soul simply by turning from evil though we must do so if we want that peace.  We must also turn to God and fill the emptiness left by the rejection of evil with love of God.  Our soul will be filled with the turmoil of evil or with the peace of God for it cannot be empty.

   The peace we find when we fill our soul with God is a peace beyond anything this world can offer.  It’s a peace in times of trial, help in times of sorrow and pain, and a comfort in all things.  Try as we may, we will never find this peace except in God.

   “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14: 27).  Satan and the world offer many things that may mimic peace, but they are a pale imitation of the peace Christ offers.  Money, fame, and all the lures of the world are lies that will disappoint.

   Only in God, only by rejecting evil and filling our heart with His love will we ever know the joy and peace of soul promised by our Lord.

 

 Worship God 

   “You have a duty to worship God, not because He will be imperfect and unhappy if you do not, but because you will be imperfect and unhappy. (Archbishop Fulton Sheen). 

   We have a responsibility to worship our Creator.  If God had not chosen to bring us into existence we would not exist and if He were to cease to desire that we exist we would no longer exist.

   By worshipping God we are not giving Him anything He needs, He needs nothing.  In no way can we add to or detract from Him, He is complete in every conceivable  way.  However if we fail to honor and worship Him we will never know the joy, happiness, and peace that God brings to those who worship and trust Him.

   When we choose to accept God into our lives and worship and serve Him we gain so many blessings.  We will see the small miracles that occur everyday that those who do not know God never recognize as miracles.  Our lives will be filled with an unending love that only the Father can bestow upon us.

   Even in the worst of times those who worship God have a strong and loving hand to help them through.  God reaches out to us and offers comfort and peace regardless of the nastiness and evil of the world about us.

   Those who worship God will come to understand that we are in exiles in this world.  Just as the Israelites were not an home during their exile in Babylon we are never at home in a world where evil seems to be the dominating force.  And as the Israelites rejoiced when they were released from 70 years of exile we will rejoice when we are released from the exile of our mortal life.

   Worshipping God is not a burden and not a chore.  It is the best part of life, an opportunity to know the Lord in this life and join Him in His holy kingdom in the next.