Late Evening Reflection: The Holy Spirit as Teacher of 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 Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
"Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?"
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
"I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers." Mt. 7: 21-23

How is it that someone could go a lifetime, perhaps calling on the name of the Lord, and perhaps prophesying and working great deeds, and still somehow fail to do the essential thing required to spend eternity in the presence of the Lord?

I have to admit that when I was much younger the scripture cited above caused me to have more than a little concern.  I knew many people in the Pentecostal and charismatic gatherings I attended who did--or claimed to do--just the things mentioned in the passage.  How could anyone be sure of his or her standing with God?  I tried to understand, and I prayed to have wisdom amid my concern.  Over time I learned that having concern can be a good thing, and especially this is so when our concern causes us to examine the motives of our hearts.

On my recent post, Pray Always, someone commented that in Jesus teaching us to pray the Our Father or the Lord's Prayer he was teaching his disciples how to pray a prayer in its full intention and with the understanding of God's will.  Indeed God's will is what should concern us most, and ironically it is God's will that is easiest to discern, but perhaps most often missed.  Are we doing things merely to bring attention to ourselves?  Is our motive to make ourselves look good or to gain the esteem of others?  If so, it may be that we have failed in discerning God's will.

Something Jesus gave us to help along the way will ultimately see that we do not fail; that is, if we listen.  It is the Holy Spirit who acts as our teacher through the Church. I cringe when someone tells me that Jesus wouldn't have cared much for a religion of dogma and doctrine, or that Jesus would not have wanted the Church to inform our beliefs and practice, and I cringe even more when I hear it from our own clergy.  Clearly Jesus gave us the Church as our teacher, and he continues to teach us today.  When we think that we know better than the Church, it reveals that we have somehow failed to discern the Holy Spirit's activity in our midst.  In desiring to have the last say in matters of faith and doctrine have we perhaps failed to know and do the will of God?

The problem I had when I was a Pentecostal Protestant, and during my Catholic growing pains, was figuring out God's will.  It seemed that everyone had their own opinion of what the Holy Spirit was telling them.  I still notice the same thing today too.  It's pretty clear that everyone has his or her own idea of what is "truth." However, apart from the Holy Spirit's teaching us through the Church, which we can depend on with certainty, are any of these individual ideas true? 

Undoubtedly you and I can go on having our opinions.  We can agree and disagree on an infinite number of subjects, theology included.  However, we should never confuse our opinions and our ideas with God's will.  Truth is found in the Spirit of God: it is found in the person of the Lord, and it is none other than Jesus our Lord to whom we look and who teaches us when we look to the Church as our guide.

Knowing God's will requires that we learn the discipline of self-surrender.  We must surrender to something bigger than ourselves, but the sheer joy is that surrender, rather than loss, means that we gain everything.

The greatest joy of this life--really, its only joy--is to know and to do the will of God.  Certainly we have a sure teacher, and thus we also have great cause to rejoice.  In knowing and doing the Father's will, we engage and commune with both his Son and with the Holy Spirit.  It may be that we have never before realized the accessibility of the Spirit-Teacher.

Comments

[C.O.]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses it here. Also, the Franciscan Pope who wanted so much to live an even longer life for love of it, but who could not, addresses it here.

I would like to be closer to Him always.. I also would like to know His will for me-- tho' the present indicators may be enough: I am wife and mother (vocation) and all beyond that is secondary vocation. As for salvation, there came a decisive moment when I realized that others were more in need of salvation than I am, so even though a number of folks would argue this, and/or throw holy water at me, I have to say it. If God is for us, who can be against us? And God IS for us. We share in the royal priestly and prophetic role, so like a priest, if I spiritually keep my nose clean, adhere to the sacraments, be open to His grace (and absolution), pray, give alms, do good works, and, when in doubt consult the authority of the Church, I'll be okay, tho' I shall always expect much time of purging. MUCH. Others, however, are falling for the propaganda of the world and of hell, or are just too tired to keep fighting the good fight. Worst of all, they are missing the God Who utterly thirsts for them -- a lose/lose thing. So many are tempted by Pilate's own downfall: "What is Truth?" Even Pilate had a clue to that, as did his wife who dreamed of it. He must've known God in some way, because he detained Jesus with questions, looking for some legal loophole to release Him upon. But in the end, he caved in to the popular cry.

And, one can serve the mentally-unstable homeless, but if they don't see Christ's hands tending the charcoal on the beach and offering them fish, then the work is all but fruitless. As He says, If one believes in the Father but doesn't believe in Him, one can at least believe in His works. His works testify to Him, because they give glory to the Father. But there's only one way for anyone to see Love; it is to be Love, which does indeed require personal surrender. Again and again. Surrender of everything in us that isn't Him. But the gain is not singular, it's multiplied, likes loaves and fishes. Oh, the Holy Spirit is alive and well, yes.

Whose will am I doing? Indeed, the question of the hour. Of every hour. Of every thought. The kindest thing about revelations that knock us to the ground in inventorying the hour or the day with the aid of the Holy Spirit, is to know that if we have failed to discern God's will, then as long as breath remains, He will give us other opportunities. And next time, we will not stray from the asking of His will first.

A lovely reflection, DDW.

[MMajor Fan]

Another very important message, and so well explained. Notice that while the term "knowing" God's will is used, the Bible, both Old and New Testament, never claims that one will be able to comprehend at a given time God's total will, purpose, and intentions. Jesus was teaching to be in a state of continual openness to the priority of God's will. The gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude and knowledge all represent a continual state of openness, learning, and recognition that one is operating within God's will. For example, wisdom is gained over time and discernment. God's total will is actually unknowable, but needs to be trusted and loved. One can discern direction at points in one's life, and thus make a decision that is in harmony with God's will. But one has to be careful not to confuse that with thinking that one can now articulate God's "policy" or "five year plan" if you know what I mean. That is the trap that many Pentecostals fall into. God's will is heard in the small voice, not the loud and obvious earthquake and wind. Like you point out, that is where "Truth is found in the Spirit of God: it is found in the person of the Lord, and it is none other than Jesus our Lord to whom we look and who teaches us when we look to the Church as our guide."