Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6:10
All of God’s wonderful creation is sacred in spite of the fact that we live in a secular world that tends to denigrate His sovereignty over nature. It is God’s will that we enjoy the works of His creation. Grace builds on nature, and Jesus came on earth, “not to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17) He did not come to condemn the world; rather, He came to save the world, and those who live in the world (John 3:17)

Jesus had a full life. He went to parties, and had all kinds of friends; politicians, tax collectors, widows, divorces, saints and sinners. At no time, did He ration the gift of the spirit (John 3:17). He reached out to everyone; the poor, the lame, the blind, a wealthy tax collector, a synagogue official, and a Roman Centurion. He called simple fishermen to be His disciples, and empowered them to be His witnesses. He calls us to follow Him and shows us what it means to do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.

Finding God’s will in our lives brings with it an awareness of our human need to grow according to His higher purpose in our lives. Jesus enables us to be renewed in the spirit; to be forgiven of our sins; and to walk in the newness of His example. Through Him, we can forget our sins, confident in His unconditional forgiveness so as to experience the joy of doing God’s will. Like St. Paul we need give “no thought to what lies behind, but push on to what is ahead (Philippians 3:13)

Knowing God’s purpose for us is our greatest asset in life. The faith to know this is God’s gift to us. It is not a reward for anything we have accomplished, so let us never pride ourselves on it like the self-righteous Pharisee who boasted about his achievements, while condemning others, when he went up to the temple to pray (Luke 18:11).

We need to ask the Lord, daily, for the wisdom to do His holy will. As you do this, you will develop a healthy dependence on God; you will possess the freedom of the children of God who acknowledge that He is in charge because it is God’s will that matters, not your own. This is how we acknowledge God as God.

Thy will be done.

Fr. Hugh Duffy

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