My Will v. Thy Will Be Done

July 27, 2007

St. Luke's account of the Lord's Prayer is a powerful reminder of the efficacy of Divine Providence. After presenting the reader with the text of the Lord's Prayer, we are assured that our heavenly Father, the addressee of the prayer, is eminently aware of our various needs and that we can approach Him with confidence and childlike trust. God knows what is truly best for us in every aspect of our lives. Given this reality, Jesus asks us to place our trust in Providence by simply stating, "thy will be done."

As simple as this formula for trust in God may seem, the believer is confronted with the daunting task of truly placing one's trust in God. Quite often, we pray, "thy will be done," but in our hearts, we are really praying, "thy will be done my way." The logical conclusion of this type of prayer is to somehow try to manipulate God's will so that He fits into our lives and our preferences. Instead of truly allowing God to direct our lives (since He is the source and end of our very existence), we can begin to view God as a lucky charm or our "go-to" miracle worker.

To sincerely pray "thy will be done," demands that the believer first acknowledge that God is more than just a part of his life. He is much more than that — God is the life of the believer and it is incumbent upon the person making supplication to remain open to what God chooses for him. Thus, the truly mature prayer is to ask God to grant our desire if it be according to His holy will and our true good, regardless of what our preferences may be.

At times, individuals complain that God "does not answer my prayers." That is not always the case. God may answer our prayers but we may not always like His answers or His way. When God allows us to experience a slight taste of the Cross in order to purify us, we can be led to believe that He has abandoned us. This moved St. Teresa of Avila to remark, "We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials." The suffering we may endure is sometimes used as a way of breaking our willfulness so that we learn how to be led by the Lord.

The fast food chain, Burger King, once ran a marketing ad whose motto was, "Have it your way." While this approach may be effective in attracting consumers, it is not the way of the Lord Jesus. His approach is better described as, "Have it My Way." As often as we pray the Lord's Prayer, we do well to surrender our will over to Him, so that His will may be accomplished in us. May our docility lead us to make His way our own, even if that may involve suffering and purification. When we possess this mode of prayer, we learn that it is in surrendering to His will that we become truly free.

The Work of god

Year C

- Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.

Luke 11:1-13

1 AND it came to pass, that as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2 And he said to them: When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
3 Give us this day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.
5 And he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves,
6 Because a friend of mine is come off his journey to me, and I don?t have anything to set before him.
7 And he from within should answer, and say: Don?t bother me, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you.
8 Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise, and give him as much as he needs.
9 And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.
10 For every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.
11 And which of you, if he asks his father bread, will he give him a stone? Or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he reach him a scorpion?
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him?

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - For every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.

I have taught you a great prayer, the ?Our Father?. When you meditate this prayer and live it, you will find great consolation, because in this prayer I am showing you the way you must speak to God.

First of all you must acknowledge that you are children of the Most High, then united to all the angels, the saints and all creation you must praise His Holy Name. You must praise and thank the author of your existence daily.

After the prayer of adoration you must think of the plan of God for his children, and ask for his kingdom to come. I am the King of Kings. I will rule your heart with my love only if you allow me to enthrone myself with your consent. I have come to reveal the plan of the Father, which is your sanctification and salvation. This is accomplished as you do His Divine Will. To do the will of God you must obey His Commandments and accept me as your Lord and Saviour. For this you must pray daily.

After adoring God and honouring his desires, you may then present your needs to him. As you pray for your daily bread do not neglect to pray for those who are in need, pray also to receive the heavenly bread that the Father has sent from Heaven, my body and blood which you can receive to nourish and to purify your souls.
To receive me you must be free from sin. It is very important that you ask pardon for your sins, but remember that you cannot be forgiven unless you forgive those who offend you. Pray that you may become merciful, as I am merciful, that you become patient and forgive the limitations of others as God forgives yours.

Always seek my protection, I will deliver you from evil. Seek refuge in my holy wounds, which have been opened for you to be healed and to hide you from the enemy. As you stay covered with my blood you are purified of your sins, you receive wisdom to live a holy life and you give glory to God.

I have given you the examples of the good fathers of this world who will always give you what is good. My Heavenly Father loves you so much that He has sent me to the world to save from your sins. To sanctify you he will also give you the Holy Spirit if you ask for Him. Therefore turn to Him in adoration, praise, intercession and supplication. Pray that He will send you the Holy Spirit so that your lives may be holy.

Give glory to God.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

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