Denver Catholic

D ecisions matter. Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you. We all know how difficult it can be to make decisions, and sometimes we prefer not to make them. Fortunately, we are not alone in making our choices. God comes to our aid with his Holy Spirit and equips us in myriad ways so that we can do his will. During the Archdiocesan Discernment Process, we have been considering God's will for our fam- ilies, our parishes, our diocese and our universal Church. The process of discernment through prayer, dialogue and listening to the Spirit has been invigorating and has yielded some impressive proposals. Likewise, many people are asking how they can discern God's will on a personal level. Let's explore some of the principles and practices for discerning God's will. D E FI N I N G 'G O D ' S W I L L' What do we mean by God's will? It is his conscious deciding, willing and choosing to do something, especially with our cooperation. God is supremely free, and his will is effective, accomplishing what he pleases. When we freely cooperate in doing God's will, we will be happy and contribute to building his Kingdom. We pray in the Our Father, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." God's will is certain and universal for us on two counts. First, he desires our salvation. "God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:3-4). Second, he desires our sanctification, our growing in holiness and love. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thes 4:3). Every decision we make should be in keeping with these two goals. Practical steps to discern God's will LI STE N TO G O D What is your will, O Lord? Beyond these universals, God wants us to use our minds and hearts to discern how to live according to his plan, which he has revealed. God is interested in the details of my life. In his providence, he loves and cares for me and the common good of all. He desires that I actively seek and find his will and cooperate in choosing and exe- cuting it. Why is this so challenging? Well, it certainly makes us grow in virtue, developing our gifts of intel- lect and will in wisdom, prudence and in so many other good qualities. We need to be enlightened, equipped and empowered by God, that he would accomplish his will in us. "Now may the God of peace…equip you with every- thing good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight" (Heb 13:20-21). The Lord already reveals his will for us in so many ways when we form our consciences in Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church. We are given instruc- tions such as the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes, as lived by Jesus. The Church elucidates and teaches us truth about who we are and how to live our Christian lives. The duties of our state in life informs our choices. For instance, in marriage the twin goals of unity and procreation have plenty of implications about how to live that vocation. The Church's moral teaching on the virtues shows us how to live well in each situation, such as moderation in plea- sure, courage in the face of obstacles, justice in giving each person his or her due and prudence in applying principles. Even with all this help, choices can still be difficult. What is our image of doing God's will? A lot of people envision the process like the relationship of boss and employee. God, the boss, gives me orders on the job, like digging a hole or moving bricks, and I receive a reward or paycheck for doing it. Not much communication or rela- tionship there! A better image is that of two spouses, a husband and wife. Both persons express their opinions and desires for expected outcomes. There is a loving dialogue in prayer between myself and the Lord. I see his point of view and he sees mine. There is mutuality in deciding and each person tries to please the other in doing what is best for everyone according to the situation. In keeping with this image, my relationship with God is cen- ter-stage, and the decisions flow from prayer. Sometimes the Lord even manifests his will to us through our desires. "It is God, who in his good will toward you, begets in you any measure of desire or achievement" (Phil. 2:13). In all this there is a foundation of trust and love for God. He has plans for us and desires our greater freedom in choos- ing them. Once we are held dear by God, at peace in his embrace, we will experience moments of clarity — some stronger than others — about what he has in store for us. BY FATHER GREG CLEVELAND, OMV Director of the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality 36 SEPTEMBER 2022 | DENVER CATHOLIC

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