Good News Reflection
Thursday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary TimeSeptember 6, 2007
Today's Readings:Col 1:9-14Ps 98:2-6Luke 5:1-11
http://www.usccb.org/nab/090607.shtml

Attaining full knowledge of God's willIn today's first reading, Saint Paul says that we should be FILLED withknowledge of God's will and have ALL spiritual wisdom and understanding.This eliminates doubts about the right decisions to make. It preventsmisinterpretations of the signs he gives. It enables us to think with themind of Christ, replacing what we assume to be right with what the HolySpirit, who dwells within us, knows is right.God usually doesn't give us knowledge of the future, but he does always giveus knowledge of his will. He never wants us to be confused about his will.He wants us to have his wisdom and his understanding so that we can walk ina manner that imitates Jesus. But how can we accomplish such completeknowledge on this side of heaven's gate?Notice that Paul connects "every good work bearing fruit" with"growing inthe knowledge of God." The more we do good works ‹ imitating Jesus ‹ themore we grow in knowledge of God and the more we understand his will and theeasier it becomes to imitate Jesus. Instead of waiting to understand God'swill before we act in a Christ-like manner, we choose to do it, and theaction builds understanding.Normally though, we hesitate when we're unsure of God's will. It seems wiseto do nothing until his will becomes clear to us. Waiting is better thangoing off in the wrong direction or making a mistake, right?If discernment about God's will doesn't come quickly, it could be becauseGod is saying, "Wait, slow down, don't move ahead until I make mydirectionsclear to you." OR it could mean that we're not seeing what God has placedright in front of our faces; we're not hearing his voice because our willdisagrees with his will and we don't want to believe the truth.God's will is always summed up in one, simple directive that Jesusemphasized: Love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love everyoneelse as you love yourself. To get out of hesitancy mode and step forward inGod's will, we must DO something ‹ we must do what love would do. We mustmake a decision that will bear good fruit. If it honors God, if it is lovingto others, and if it will benefit our eternal souls, we should step forwardin faith trusting that the good work we do IS God's will.If this accidentally leads us away from his perfect, preferred plan, we canbe pleased that at least we're not sinning. God is certainly very pleasedwith that! In our act of doing good, even if we make a mistake ininterpreting God's will, we discover God's will. We learn from doing. Welearn from the good fruits that are produced by our efforts and we alsolearn from our mistakes.If we truly desire to do God's will and follow his guidance, we aredirectable. He gently but firmly steers us back into the plan that hedesigned. Even our mistakes become blessings!Note: For help with this, download my e-book "Knowing God's Will and Doingit Well."


------------------------------------------------------------------------© 2007 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm