
A Gospel according to Mt 6:7-15
Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
REFLECTION
"...thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Jesus taught His disciples only one prayer, the "Our Father." How many times have we prayed the Our Father and really understood what we have prayed?
Every word and phrase in the Our Father prayer is significant. Many in the Catholic Church have reflected and taught on its meaning; Doctors, saints, and theologians.
What did Jesus mean, "...thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."? So how do we know the Will of God?
In 2020 PAPA members were invited to an annual retreat entitled, "Who's the Boss? Your way or Mine; Discerning the Will of God." Father Michael J. Truongluan Nguyen, C.Ss.R. gave us some practical advice using St.Ignatius of Loyola - Spiritual Exercise as a resource.
In Rule 1 - Understand - Father Michael explained that there are "three good moments" that we experience which help us discern God's Will. These moments we experience can be "certain, clear, or calm."
We are certain when we get a "direct call from God." A dramatic example would be the conversion of St. Paul. Blinded by Jesus' light, St. Paul was knocked to the ground and heard Jesus' voice, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Another example, St. Faustina Kowalska saw Jesus as Divine Mercy. He taught her about the power of His Divine Mercy and how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
The second way to discern God's Will is "clear." Understanding the situation from the discernment of consolation and desolation and that of the Spirit." When one sees in situations God's work in their lives in a positive light, then they are moving towards God. This is a state of consolation. An example, a person gets a pink slip from his employer. That person is not resentful to the employer but prays to find a better job. When one sees situations as God's actions in their life with ingratitude, resentment, or a "gloom and doom" attitude, they are in desolation. An example of this type of person gets a pink slip from his employer, but he resents his employer and spreads hateful rumors about him. In this state, the person is resisting God and is moving away from God.
The third way to discern the Will of God is if you sense calm or peace and "tranquility. One is no longer indecisive, but calm and at peace with their choice. One is no longer worried or confused about their decision and course of action. "Their soul is not agitated or confused by different spirits.
The first Rule and the three moments we might experience is the beginning of discerning God's Will. Rule 2 is to know in which Father defined what God never wants and what God always wants. God never wants you to do evil, harm, fall into temptation, go to hell, or sin. God does want you to do good as God would do, help by giving and forgiving, think like Jesus, pray to go to heaven, and to love and be holy. Then in Rule 3, we learned to serve. Here Father explained 5 questions to ask yourself. What do you want? How much or how"desperate" do you want it? Ask God, does what you want, please Him? What does your conscience (the Holy Spirit) tell you about your choice? Would God want what you want?
Jesus is always our example of how to discern the Will of God the Father. Come to our PAPA FACE ZBS to learn what Jesus teaches us from a Biblical context and to our PAPA Retreat to learn how Jesus wants us to know God the Father and to respect Fatherhood in our Family life.
Let us pray the Our Father and meditate on "...thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."? God bless!
REFERENCES
Who's the Boss? Your Way or Mine: Discerning the Will of God. Retreat handout by Father Michael J. Truongluan Nguyen, C.Ss.R.
St. Ignatius of Loyola - Spirituality- Consolation and Desolation
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