Men's Rosary

There are three things we are all expected to do for our parents as children.  We were to listen to what they said, trust that they knew what was best for us, and obey what they said and the “rules” they laid out for us.  I would hope we all had parents that we could do this with. I know that some had parents that even though they listened to them, due to circumstances they did not trust them or obey them.

The good news is that these things are called for in the spiritual life and God our Father can be trusted!  It is important to take inventory on how well or badly we are doing this.  “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”  (Proverbs 1:5). We listen to God in prayer and scripture.  That is why it is so important to build quiet time with the Lord into every day.  This is how we build a relationship with him and become a student of his.  Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like to travel with Jesus and learn form him as the first disciples did!  Well, we can do that now in the study and contemplation of scripture and time in prayer “listening” to him!  “And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, This is my   beloved son; listen to him.”” (Mark 9:7)

Through learning and building a relationship with Christ we will be able to come to trust him.  In this trust we will be overfilled with blessings.  We will be protected from all evil and strengthened to endure all trials.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and it is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  (Jeremiah 17:7-8) God created us out of love, his perfect love.  We, being created in his likeness and image, share a special place in his heart, and he will care for us.  We can trust in his will, in his providence.   All we have to do is detach from ourselves, recognize our littleness, and total dependence on God.  “Look at the birds of the air:  they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly /father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?”  (Matthew 6:26)

Then comes the hardest part…Obeying!  We listen and we trust but do we obey?  How well are we uniting our will to his will? I have found that when I do obey, things seem to go more smoothly.  After all, if we are going to say we believe in God and the teachings of our faith, we must obey and accept God’s will for us, even when it seems hard or intimidating. We need to follow even when it is opposite of the worldly view and opinion.  We must be true to our faith and to the Lord.  “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?”  (Luke 6:46)   Many times what is asked of us may seem challenging, extreme, too difficult. That would always be correct if left to our own devices, but the Lord is with us every step of the way.  If you remember the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his only son (Genesis 22), you see a tremendous struggle in obeying God.  Hopefully, none of us are tested to that extreme.  But in the end, Isaac was spared, and God provided a ram.  God always provides.  And for his obedience, Abraham was greatly blessed.  So will any of us that do obey.  “But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it”. (Luke 11:28)

While most of us, I am sure, listen and trust in the Lord, let us be sure to obey him.  Let us take time to truly listen to what God is asking of us and directing us to do in our lives.  Let us trust in his will and providence and take courage in boldly obeying him.  God never leaves us; it is only we who leave him.  How blessed we are that in his mercy we can turn back to him at any time, and he will welcome us with open arms.  As we prepare our hearts during advent for the coming of the child Jesus, let us joyfully renew our trust in him and increase our obedience to fully live in Christ every day of our lives.

“Obedience raises us beyond the limits of our littleness and puts us in harmony with God’s will.”  (St. Maximillian Kolbe)