Vol. III July August 2000

"Thy Will Be Done"

There seems to be two reasons why another would want us to do his or her will. Or maybe we could say: there are two kinds of "superiors". There is the one who wants something for himself and he makes use of others to get it. Thus they serve his needs. He imposes his will, he uses his authority with a view to achieving his own ends.

On the other hand there is the superior who desires what is best for those for whom he is responsible. Behind his will there is good intention. This is the secret. He has thought the situation over, and has endeavored to discern what is most convenient. Of course, being well aware of his own limitations, he also sought the counsel of others, and if a Christian, he prayed for light from the Holy Spirit. When he constantly acts like this, those entrusted to his authority will feel assured that he has their good in mind. Even his manner of "transmitting orders" is different from our authoritarian counterpart mentioned above. He speaks will humility, as he is trying to serve the best interest of others. He also speaks with charity, as he desires the true happiness of all around him.

God the Father wants us to do His Will. But why? Or, to whom should we compare the Father? To the authoritarian boss, or to the superior who sees himself at the service of others? There is no need to answer this question! Did not Jesus say that the Father "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Mt 5,45), and more poignantly, "for the Father himself loves you" (Jo 16,27). Yes, God our Father loves us. In fact He loves each one as if he or she were the only person on earth. It is not that His love is fairly divided between his many children. Rather, He loves each one with His unlimited Love.

It is for this reason that He has a plan for each one of us. Before His eyes, our Father has a map planned out, a map which shows our road to happiness. On this road there are difficulties, but each difficulty, each cross is at the service of our growth. This map is not only the fruit of God’s Love, it is also the fruit of His Wisdom.

Here we need to stop and think: Is it possible that most of us are somehow convinced that we know very well how we will reach happiness and that any alternative plan cannot possibly contribute to our well-being? In other words: is it possible that each one of us thinks that his or her own wise plan is really the best? Or, do we possess a profound conviction that God ways are really better than our own? Have we made our own the words that God spoke through the prophet Isaiah:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Is 55,8-9)?

If we could but convince ourselves that God’s plans are truly wise, that they infallibly, yes infallibly, lead to happiness, we would have much less difficulty in praying with all sincerity: "Thy Will be done". We would embrace His Will as if it were our greatest friend. We would devour it as if it were most delicious food. This, indeed, in how Christ describes the Will of His Father: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me" (Jo 4,34).

Food has two purposes. Firstly, it gives us strength. He who eats grows strong. This strength permits him to work. Likewise, he or she who does the will of God grows strong. Here it seems most opportune to point to the significance of fidelity in little things. Possibly one of the most important scripture quotations for the lives of many people is: "He who is faithful is a very little is faithful also in much" (Lk 16,10). How often do we here people say that they cannot avoid sin, that it is impossible for them to adhere to the teaching of Christ and His Church? If they would but fulfill the Father’s will in little things, they would gather strength. The fulfillment of His will is small things would be the food that nourishes their souls and gives strength for the more difficult challenges. If we would but say our morning prayers with more fidelity and attention (such a small thing in itself) we would grow to the point of being able to offer our entire day to God. Yes, God’s Will is food. It gives strength to our souls.

But food is not only nourishing, it is also enjoyable. At times, when we are eating, the purpose of nutrition is not uppermost in our minds. We rather desire to give ourselves some legitimate enjoyment with friends. Likewise, fulfilling the Father’s Will brings deep joy and unites us to His sons and daughters, our brothers and sister in Christ. Here we need to say an important word:

The more promptly we do God’s Will, the more joy it brings.

It is as if, slowly but very surely, our entire being begins to harmonize with God who is Love. That divine map, which is our straight road to happiness, is seen to be the fruit of His infinite Love and surpassing Wisdom. As such, His plan fills our souls with deep peace. Food is not only nourishing, it is also enjoyable. Fulfilling God’s Will does not only strengthen us, it also leads us to happiness, even in this life.

"On Earth As It Is In Heaven"

Looking further to the prayer which Our Lord taught us, we see that He does not only want us to do the Will of the Father, but also wants us to do it in a special way: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Maybe we could start this mediation by asking: "Who was in heaven when Christ taught this prayer to his disciples?" The answer to this question is very simply: the Angels. By looking to God’s holy Angels we find our first models in the fulfilling of the Father’s Will. But, you may ask, in what manner do the Angels fulfill God’s Will. The answer is very simple: without delay. This is captured in the words of the Psalm:

Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

hearkening to the voice of his word! (Ps103,20)

Yes, they hearken, they are "attentive to the word of his command", and they fulfill it with "winged obedience". Indeed, this is one explanation of the wings with which we see Angels depicted. These wings symbolize flight. They manifest to us the rapidity with which the Angels fulfill God’s will. All too often we seem to need to "chew the cud" before we manage do conform our wills to God’s will. We like to weigh the ups and the downs even when God’s will is clear. Or we like to think that maybe God’s Will is not so manifest after all. We suppose that we have not enough certainty about what God really wants, and use this as a pretext for procrastination. Procrastination is a great enemy of spiritual progress. Once we have reasonable certainty of what our loving Lord wants, we ought to fulfill it with genuine cheerfulness. We should fulfill it cheerfully, since He Who desires our good, delights when we fulfill His will. He delights as fulfilling His will advances us to that union of love to which He has destined us for all eternity.

It is sad when we need a long time to bow to the will of the Lord. It is even sadder if we never even get to this point, if we "bow out" without firmly deciding to do what is for our own long-term good. If we had a more vivid faith, we would be consciously aware of the truth that the Father’s Will in Loving and Wise, and for this reason, it infallibly leads to happiness. This would lead to a more prompt, let us say "angel-like" fulfilling of God’s Will.

But let us look to one who is far above the Angels. Let us look to their Queen, Our Blessed Lady. In her we see that perfect answer to God’s Will as expressed in her reply to the Angel Gabriel:

Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord;
let it be done to me according to your word. (Lk 1,38)

Let us unite ourselves to Mary. United to her, we will surely fulfill God loving and wise plans.